The Richie Benaud Commentators Thread

[beefy]

It seems there is a mixture of commentators from around the world working for the broadcasting of this World Cup, is this the same for every channel?
For those of you around the world what commentators are you getting on your televisions? Im just curious to see if it is only my T.V that i'm watching that has a mixture of commentators from different channels i.e Smithy from the NZ commentary team, Beefy and Bumble from Sky, Nicholas from Channel 4 and a few from Pakistan who i have heard commentating on Pakistan matches over the years. I think it's great to hear all the voices i am used to hearing on different stations around the world all together for this tornament.

Does everyone get the same commentary for this tornament?

[STT]

No idea Beefy but I didn't enjoy being surprised by Nicholas' ramblings when I wasn't prepared for it, I can assure you.

I agree though - it's a refreshing mix. I take it Richie isn't going to be commentating though? I always enjoy Saint Richie of Benaud.

[GloriousGloucesters]

I've been impressed with the range of commentators so far (even Nicholas is okay in moderate doses). Great to see Ian Smith back - I used to enjoy listening to him on Channel 4. Pommie Mbwenga was also impressive in the Windies v Pakistan game.

[daz]

I wish they would get rid of Raja

[beefy]

What is good is that it is not just they have hired in the odd pundit from each country, like for instance Sky always get someone from a respective country according to whom we are playing, i.e. i remember Donald commentating whilst we were playing SA and Lehman whilst playing the Aussies. This WC seems different though, it is not just 'cameo' commentators, it is infact the top commentators from each nations channels all moulded into one.
Whilst watching SA games on SSN (i think) or watching Pakistan games from their broadcasting, you would hear their own commentators, now for the WC the selected few from each channel have banded together and i think it is a good mix. Does everyone from around the globe get the same? Or have some nations stuck with their traditional commentators? It was good to see Botham teamed up with Smithy yesterday.
Already in watching 5 matches i have heard at least 15 different commentators:

Shall we compile a list...

Beefy
Bumble
Blewett
Slater (i think?)
Raja
Smithy
Knight
Nicholas
Nasser
Holding
Adams
Mbengwa

A few more i have missed, particularly Asian ones that i cannot remember. Once SA play no doubt we will hear the familiar voices from SSN like B.Richards.

[1000yardstare]

http://www.dstv.com/main.aspx?ID=8404&ParentId=&s=

[Rosbif]

I think Nicholas must be on the payroll of Cricket Australia because he sounds more like their propaganda mouthpiece than a commentator.

[Huda]

The commentators scheduled for world feed of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 are as follows:
Jimmy Adams (WI)
Athar Ali Khan (BAN)
Paul Allott (ENG)
Michael Atherton (ENG)
Ian Bishop (WI)
Greg Blewett (AUS)
Ian Botham (ENG)
Tony Cozier (WI)
Darryl Cullinan (SA)
Jeffrey Dujon (WI)
Ranjit Fernando (SL)
Damien Fleming (AUS)
Desmond Haynes (WI)
Michael Holding (WI)
Nasser Hussain (ENG)
Nick Knight (ENG)
David Lloyd (ENG)
Sanjay Manjrekar (IND)
Pommie Mbangwa (ZIM)
Mark Nicholas (ENG)
Ramiz Raja (PAK)
Barry Richards (SA)
Mark Richardson (NZ)
L. Sivaramakrishnan (IND)
Ian Smith (NZ)
Aamir Sohail (PAK)
Bob Willis (ENG)
John Wright (NZ)

yes its a world commentator list for all channels

[patlee111]

There is an Irish guy comentating on TMS.

I don't know who he is but he makes Arlo White sound good!

[daz]

He must be poor then

[Michelle Fivefer]

Originally Posted by patlee111

There is an Irish guy comentating on TMS.

I don't know who he is but he makes Arlo White sound good!

I agree.

[Fatslogger]

I have to say that I thought Arlo White was a slight disappointment after the Irish guy. Both are shockingly bad but at least the Irish guy has a nice accent.

[Fatslogger]

Originally Posted by dazntfc

I wish they would get rid of Raja

Ideally using a shotgun.

[Cricket Guy]

Originally Posted by Beefy

For those of you around the world what commentators are you getting on your televisions?

Well, Dean Jones is part of the pre-match discussion panel on SetMax, the channel broadcasting the World Cup in India, I can tell you. It's rather disapponting, though I blame the channel more than Jones. While I am certainly not advocating that Jones never commentate again, it would have been prudent to keep him away from this region's television coverage.

Somewhat astonishingly, though, his style is rather less jarring than it was in his previous avatar as match commentator.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by Fatslogger

I have to say that I thought Arlo White was a slight disappointment after the Irish guy. Both are shockingly bad but at least the Irish guy has a nice accent.

I posted this on the match thread, but might as well repeat it here,seeing as that has descended into Zim political discussions.

I have to say, the quality of the cricket yesterday was well matched with the quality in the TMS commentary box. Rameez Raja and Arlo White were a match made in hell. Neither of them had the slightest clue what was going on at the end of the match, especially the last over. Arlo has this annoying habit of attempting to describe what's happening,failing, then laughing it off. Bring back Blowers and CMJ At least they're entertainingly bad

[1000yardstare]

From that list, the five I would like to listen to and the five I wouldn't -

Michael Atherton (ENG)
Damien Fleming (AUS)
Michael Holding (WI
Pommie Mbangwa (ZIM)
Sivaramakrishnan (IND)

Ramiz Raja (PAK)
Bob Willis (ENG)
Paul Allott (ENG)
Darryl Cullinan (SA)
Mark Nicholas (ENG)

[Fatslogger]

Originally Posted by Cricket Guy

Well, Dean Jones is part of the pre-match discussion panel on SetMax, the channel broadcasting the World Cup in India, I can tell you. It's rather disapponting, though I blame the channel more than Jones. While I am certainly not advocating that Jones never commentate again, it would have been prudent to keep him away from this region's television coverage.

Somewhat astonishingly, though, his style is rather less jarring than it was in his previous avatar as match commentator.

The odd thing about Jones is that while he's clearly a very bad commentator, he's rather a good summariser. He did that on TMS for a while and I had to hear his name about three times before I believed that the relaxed, informative and entertaining Aussie talking was the same one as the gibbering wreck of a commentator. On the terrorist comment, I'm still staggered. What an imbecile.

[drumkingSP]

Who is the host broadcaster?

[Huda]

I like Mbangwa's commentary along with Bumble and Ather's. Don't really like Aamir Sohail, Damien Fleming's commentary at all!!!

[Greatbatch]

Originally Posted by Fatslogger

The odd thing about Jones is that while he's clearly a very bad commentator, he's rather a good summariser. He did that on TMS for a while and I had to hear his name about three times before I believed that the relaxed, informative and entertaining Aussie talking was the same one as the gibbering wreck of a commentator. On the terrorist comment, I'm still staggered. What an imbecile.

Jones is definately a bad commentator, can't see how he got a gig again. Living in Australia I have been privelege to Deanos ill informed/brainless comments for several years. Apart from his stupid terrorist comments he was also what you might call an over-commentator. ie. Rather than just shut up for a while & let the pictures tell the words such as the great Richie Benaud might do.

Jones feels like he has to talk constant gibberish just to fill the airwaves. In fact I distinctly remember the last Aus v Sri Lanka test series in Sri Lanka when the tense situation demanded poise & silence yet Jonesy was still busy crapping on ad nauseum about how batsmen now strap their pads differently compared to his day. On top of that you had that wierdo Bruce Yardley doing an embarrassing impression of Zorro because some other commentator happened to mention Catherine Zeta Jones around him. That series was the equivalent of a commentating Headingly 1981/Adelaide 2006. ie. A disaster.

I have only seen bits of the World Cup coverage but it does appear that only some of the good commentators are there but yet some of them are missing or being held back. In fact it appears to be a Cricket Commentators World Cup as well. ie Commentators trying to show their wears to impress the network selectors and bumping off other commentators to help their chances.

Of the good ones I've seen so far there would be guys like Beefy, Athers, Damien Fleming, Ian Smith, Jimmy Adams, Barry Richards etc on the top of that list. But there also seem to be some ordinary commentators involved or some that should be there but are missing. I mean how is Greg Blewett getting a gig but no Richie Benaud or Chapelli or even Micky Slater. Maybe it is a Ch9 thing because those guys will only cover super 8s but Blewett sure as hell doesn't carry the weight of a Benaud/Chappell/Waugh etc.

And where is Willis, Gower or David Lloyd? They are great commentators for Sky but are they now part of some BBC/Ch4 coverage or being held back for the Super 8/finals.

A World Cup without David Lloyd? Thats unpossible.