The big change for me with TV cricket was when C4 took over and introduced Simon Hughes as the analyst. The first time when someone actually spent time explaining and demonstrating what away swing, seam position, leg spin etc actually meant
Technology has really helped my understanding of the game. Being able to see a graphic showing where Abbas has been pitching the ball or the degrees of movement or bounce in a Chris Woakes over really help put over the quality of the bowling in a match
For a while he was on television, and seemed to work on the basis that as you could see what was happening there was no point in him saying anything at all. Once, when a player was bowled, the batsman walked off the pitch, was replaced by a new batsman, and Arlott said nothing. He said such nothing I was convinced the set had broken and started haranguing my mum to call the repair man and tell him the sound had gone. Then, as the new batsman was about to receive his first ball, came a barely audible gruff sound – ‘That’s bowled him’.
Scott Minto, Gary Neville, Don Goodman, Andy Hinchcliffe are my favourites
Ned Boulting (Charlton fan) has gotten better with the cycling since taking over from Liggett and Sherwen on ITV
She's not so much a pundit but special mention to Laura Jones
Never knew Boulting was a Charlton fan. Like him even more. Also like Millar, despite his dodgy history and Gary Imlach despite his dodgy familial connections to Palace.
I'm also hoping this is true as he's one of my favourite, possibly favourite, commentator/presenter. Think him and Millar work really, really well together. Can't wait for this year's TDF.
The commentary by Ian Smith and Nasser Hussain at the finale of the one day World Cup final last year was brilliant. Smith is very good.
I think there is a difference between commentary and punditry, and a significant difference between what happens on the television set compared to the wireless.
There is also a big difference between a commentator and a summariser. They often work in pairs....one commentating on the live action itself whilst the other summarises what has just taken place. Andy Townsend was a very good summariser but not so good when he commentated.
Comments
Commentator says 'Richie Benaud has joined us in the commentary box'.
20 minutes pass and then Richie says 'morning everyone'.
Technology has really helped my understanding of the game. Being able to see a graphic showing where Abbas has been pitching the ball or the degrees of movement or bounce in a Chris Woakes over really help put over the quality of the bowling in a match
For a while he was on television, and seemed to work on the basis that as you could see what was happening there was no point in him saying anything at all. Once, when a player was bowled, the batsman walked off the pitch, was replaced by a new batsman, and Arlott said nothing. He said such nothing I was convinced the set had broken and started haranguing my mum to call the repair man and tell him the sound had gone. Then, as the new batsman was about to receive his first ball, came a barely audible gruff sound – ‘That’s bowled him’.
They often work in pairs....one commentating on the live action itself whilst the other summarises what has just taken place.
Andy Townsend was a very good summariser but not so good when he commentated.