2012/13 ABC cricket Criticism thread

[Parquet Court]

It's no more dead than it was ten years ago.

its on serious life support, 10 years ago was probably around this time of experimenting with rotations and the like, it just has an emptiness about each game and i have little time for it, t20 is only slightly better

then a world cup or champions trophy comes around and everyone loves it, the answer i think is reducing these international ODIs right down and having more players playing domestically in their respective tournaments (IPL, BBL, shield etc make international matches special to see.

 

[Marstermind]

Drew Morphett brings nothing to the table. He seems like a nice guy, but his commentary is weird and boring. It always has been (footy and cricket). He should have been pushed out the door decades ago.

Can't stand him calling anything. Whether it's footy or cricket all he seems to do is repeat the score and make the sort of comments you'd expect from a primary school playground. He adds no insight into the game, lacks humour, and is unable to develop any meaningful analysis or conversation with other commentators. There has to be better around.

Damien Fleming is the best of the special comments guys - shame his Fox commitments have given him limited time on the ABC this year. Totally agree with all comments criticising Lawson. Kerry O'Keefe is genuinely funny, but needs to balance that with actually saying something meaningful that actually has something to do with the game. The coverage definitely misses Peter Roebuck.

The best part about the ABC is the interaction with the overseas caller. Whoever it is (Abeysinghe, Waddell, Manthorp, Agnew), he just slips straight into the team, seems to feel comfortable, adds background to the touring team, hides their bias reasonably well and has an excellent rapport with the other commentators. It's something Nine could think about. They used to always have a guest commentator but now it seems it's only Ian Smith when NZ tour. Anyone would be better than the Tubs/Heals/Slats blokey bulltwang, Chappelli's trips down memory lane, and Mark Nicholas' "MAXIMUM!!"

 

[MisterMarcus]

Can't stand him calling anything. Whether it's footy or cricket all he seems to do is repeat the score and make the sort of comments you'd expect from a primary school playground. He adds no insight into the game, lacks humour, and is unable to develop any meaningful analysis or conversation with other commentators. There has to be better around.

The other thing with Drew is the amount of times he gets basic things wrong.

So many times I've been listening to him call the footy and its always "....kicks it up to Mooney who marks!!!.......oh no just dropped it.......", "..and Ling kicks a GOAL!!!!!..........oh just off line actually...."

He's starting to turn into the Basil Zemplis of the ABC now by asking himself questions. "Bailey hits it, does he have enough on it? Will it be caught? It's.......caught.....is it? Or six? Er......no actually it's gone for four"

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

It's not the same without Jim & Kerry on the radio

 

[stmookeyj]

If this is your main criticism of the coverage then things aren't to bad

I would have thought as a commentator proper pronunciation of a player's name would be something EVERY commentator, good or bad, gets right from ball one.

dont think maxwell, o'keefe et al are wasting their time on the ODIs and why would you...seriously this format is just dieing in front of everyones eyes and then makes a comeback when a tournament or something is on.

mere exhibition games at present

They have put the local commentators on ODI's for years, even before the 20 over garbage exploded. The main test callers do have other commitments too during the winter (Morphett with AFL, Maxwell with Rugby Union/overseas cricket tours) so they'd also appreciate a little down time at home too.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Corbin Middlemas last night at the 20/20 - & it goes for 6 legbyes

 

[sherb]

Corbin Middlemas last night at the 20/20 - & it goes for 6 legbyes

David Morrow got caught out by a "crowd catch" tonight.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

David Morrow got caught out by a "crowd catch" tonight.

I heard that

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Now the ABC are having tennis nothing about when the cricket will start again

 

[Marklar_33]

David Morrow got caught out by a "crowd catch" tonight.

I despise that term!

 

[Plugger35]

Been listening to the ABC a fair bit today with no live coverage in Perth and streams being about as reliable as Australia's top order.

Brett Geeves is trying way too hard to be the next Kerry O'Keefe with his zany humour, that stuff is alright in small doses but you still need to commentate on the cricket game going on in front of you every now and again. Even Kerry knows when to pull back on the zany humour and do some proper cricket commentary.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

I don't mind Brett to tell you the truth

 

[Plugger35]

I don't mind Brett to tell you the truth

He can be quite entertaining at times but he needs to focus on the cricket a bit more rather than just trying to turn his commentary stints into a stand up routine.

Ed Cowan's a decent commentator, that might come in handy when his test career ends later this year.

 

[Parquet Court]

wasnt ed cowan excellent today?

loved his accurate assessments of possible team line ups, especially the up and coming indian tour, ive never heard a current player give such insight and thoughts into the make up of the side....there was no
"yeah, hes been really good in the nets"
"davey warner, watto..."
"ill leave that up to the selectors"

was great listening, a bright future awaits him after cricket.

 

[bird_man]

wasnt ed cowan excellent today?

loved his accurate assessments of possible team line ups, especially the up and coming indian tour, ive never heard a current player give such insight and thoughts into the make up of the side....there was no
"yeah, hes been really good in the nets"
"davey warner, watto..."
"ill leave that up to the selectors"

was great listening, a bright future awaits him after cricket.

Did he happen to mention who will be opening with Warner in the first test?

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

wasnt ed cowan excellent today?

loved his accurate assessments of possible team line ups, especially the up and coming indian tour, ive never heard a current player give such insight and thoughts into the make up of the side....there was no
"yeah, hes been really good in the nets"
"davey warner, watto..."
"ill leave that up to the selectors"

was great listening, a bright future awaits him after cricket.

Not bad for a current player

 

[The Speaker]

The two Ed's, Cowan and Smith, are proof that not all sportsmen are immune to being intellectual.

 

[The_Reaper]

wasnt ed cowan excellent today?

loved his accurate assessments of possible team line ups, especially the up and coming indian tour, ive never heard a current player give such insight and thoughts into the make up of the side....there was no
"yeah, hes been really good in the nets"
"davey warner, watto..."
"ill leave that up to the selectors"

was great listening, a bright future awaits him after cricket.

If he becomes captain the captains diaries might be a good read.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

The two Ed's, Cowan and Smith, are proof that not all sportsmen are immune to being intellectual.

Both Ed's are well educated

 

[Parquet Court]

Did he happen to mention who will be opening with Warner in the first test?

he did discuss but he astutely let jim maxwell take over (or jim sensed the sensitivity and took the reigns) and maxwell put ed at the top of the order

 

[MisterMarcus]

That's one thing I do like about the ABC: they're always looking for ex-players as new talent, and it's about who is a good commentator rather than who's the most famous name.

 

[madmug]

That's one thing I do like about the ABC: they're always looking for ex-players as new talent, and it's about who is a good commentator rather than who's the most famous name.

During the T20 local ABC had Geeves & Damian McIvor (ex local footballer & now ABC sports & news guy) on together & I thought they were excellent. Geeves probably sees his role as a side kick but his cricket analysis is very good IMO. If he tones down the silly stuff I think he has a good media future. Damien McIvor will become better known I'm sure & Ed Cowan was very good too IMO. I think the old ABC guys can get a bit stale but generally do a good job, except for the permanently carping, whinging & anti everyone except NSW 'Geoff Lawson'. Now He really does give me the Tom ****.

 

[Broken]

wasnt ed cowan excellent today?

loved his accurate assessments of possible team line ups, especially the up and coming indian tour, ive never heard a current player give such insight and thoughts into the make up of the side....there was no
"yeah, hes been really good in the nets"
"davey warner, watto..."
"ill leave that up to the selectors"

was great listening, a bright future awaits him after cricket.

Thought that too - gave a lot of honest feedback and opinion on both teams, very impressed.

 

[MisterMarcus]

During the T20 local ABC had Geeves & Damian McIvor (ex local footballer & now ABC sports & news guy) on together & I thought they were excellent. Geeves probably sees his role as a side kick but his cricket analysis is very good IMO. If he tones down the silly stuff I think he has a good media future. Damien McIvor will become better known I'm sure & Ed Cowan was very good too IMO. I think the old ABC guys can get a bit stale but generally do a good job, except for the permanently carping, whinging & anti everyone except NSW 'Geoff Lawson'. Now He really does give me the Tom ****.

I'll never forget a few years ago Glenn Mitchell winding up Lawson over the NSW bias.......Henry just about cracked it live on air......

 

[legend166]

Honestly I thought they had the Z-team on last night. Was pretty painful at times. Only Jim Maxwell knew what he was doing.

Then again, I could just be irrationally angry because they tried to start the 'Doherty for the test side' bandwagon.

*shudder*