Comparing the All New Australian Cricket Commentary Teams

Australia can finally look ahead to the summer of cricket with two new channels having a go later in the year, and as outspoken critics of Channel Nein, we think its about to compare and rate the New Australian Cricket Commentary Teams of Channel Seven and Fox Sports.

Rejoice as we now have a choice of watch cricket for free with ads and a decent commentary (with one reeking inclusion) or pay for watching cricket with no ads, and no Slater. This is in contrast to the last few years of listening to an increasingly dull coverage on ABC Grandstand without the old favourite and a lack of Maxwell due to health, or watch as the old boys club jerked loved themselves and each other off  a great deal and occasionally yelled way over the top at something at the cricket. 

It used to be all about them, now in the new era of new Australian Cricket Commentary Teams, it’s all about you.

There will be positives and negatives to both, and we gone through as many variables as possible to come up with the ultimate decision about how best to watch the cricket this summer and with which of the new Australian Cricket Commentary Teams.

THE ULTIMATE NEW AUSTRALIAN CRICKET COMMENTARY GURGLER RATINGS

Below is our ratings for the new Australian Cricket Commentary Teams split into 14 categories, with points given and subtracted depending on our view of the two teams. After the table is our explanation of each category and reason for score,

IT’S NOT CHANNEL NEIN (Ch7 +9 FOX +9)

Each broadcaster gets a nine point thank you for doing the deal to get rid of the clowns. Barely a tear has been shed at the loss.

INITIAL IMPACT

This is where we got the big things that made us take notice and anticipate this summer and the new commentary teams.

For Channel Seven it was the hiring of Damien Fleming (+1) and Alison Mitchell (+1), but also the realisation that they hired Michael Slater (-3). Fox Sports first eyebrow raisers were Kerry O’Keeffe (+2) returning and the creation of an entire Cricket Channel (+1).

PRICE / ADS

Channel Seven is Free (+3) and Fox Sports is not (-2), but in lot of cases people with have Fox Sports anyway so as long as it doesn’t go up because of the cricket then great. Not forgetting they lost EPL, and have bugger all over summer. As for ads, then Channel Seven goes down (-2) for having ads and no doubt the Australian Open Tennis-like upcoming TV show promos which are just awful. Remember, nothing good happens after the Tennis. Fox have no ads during play (+1).

SLATER

Channel Seven hired Michael Slater, the main problem with the Channel Nein coverage, so they lose their non Channel Nein points (-9). Fox Sports were smarter knowing a new era can’t start with the main problem of the past regime. (+1)

BRAYSHAW

Ditto the above, but as annoying as James Brayshaw is, Slater is four times worse. Channel Seven (-2) Fox Sports (+1)

HUMOUR

Something lacking in Australian Cricket coverage over the last few….well at least a decade. In jokes are not humour. The ABC had it right with Kerry O’Keeffe, and so the announcement of his arrival (+3) excited and is worth triple points, plus Michael Vaughan can be quite amusing (+1). Channel Seven have Damien Fleming is the only person on the Seven team who could carry the title of amusing. (+1), it looks a little dry over at Seven.

INTERESTING COMMENTATORS

This is where a point is awarded for every commentator that we are thinking may be interesting, or are at least looking forward to seeing their work over a whole summer. 

For Seven Alison Mitchell, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath and Brad Hodge are our one pointers. Over at Fox it is Adam Gilchrist, Isa Guha, Shane Warne, Michael Vaughan, Michael Hussey, and Kerry O’Keeffe.

DECENT ANALYSIS

A slighty objective view here, but we have it at three points a piece. Channel Seven’s team members that interest us on their insights are Damien Fleming, Ricky Ponting and Jason Gillespie. Fox Sports have Shane Warne, Kerry O’Keeffe and AB.

BLOKEY BLOKEY BLOKE BLOKE

This is where either team could have the potential to sink into the Boys Club that has ruined TV Cricket in Australia for the last decade.

Channel Seven have “Slats” (-1) and JB (-3) which could provide real blokey boys club. Fox Sports aren’t immune with Shane Warne, Brett Lee, and Mark Waugh (all -1) potential boys club members.

EXTRA SLATER

Channel Seven deserve an extra point off for hiring Slats, making their broadcast infinitely worse, Fox Sports gets the smart +1.

He really sucks down the enthusiasm for cricket.

DULLAGE – POTENTIAL FOR BOREDOM

This is where points are deducted for potential boredom. Channel Seven lose points for Simon Katich and Dirk Nannes. Fox Sports for Brendan Julian.

PROFESSIONALISM

Something lacking in Channel Nein lately, so which one do we think will be more professional. Well Channel Seven we think can claim points Bruce McAvaney (+2) if he’s involved, Mel McLauglin (+1) and good old Tim Lane +1) Fox Sports have leaders like Mel Jones and Brendan Julian (both 1 point)

THE NEW AUSTRALIAN CRICKET COMMENTARY OVERALL TOTAL

Looks like it is Fox Sports by some distance, and mainly down to hiring Slater. We won’t be the only ones thinking the same.

We would have settled for whichever channel didn’t have Michael Slater, and thankfully it is the channel that has Kerry O’Keeffe, no ads, and nothing after the tennis,

THE NEW AUSTRALIAN CRICKET COMMENTARY TEAMS

FOX SPORTS

Adam Gilchrist

Shane Warne

Isa Guha

Mark Waugh

Kerry O’Keeffe

Michael Vaughan

Mel Jones

Brett Lee

Mike Hussey

Allan Border

Brendon Julian

CHANNEL SEVEN

Ricky Ponting

Damien Fleming

Michael Slater

Glenn McGrath

Alison Mitchell

Mel McLaughlin

James Brayshaw

Lisa Sthalekar

Tim Lane

Abbey Gelmi

Greg Blewett

Simon Katich

Jason Gillespie

Brad Hodge

Dirk Nannes