David Gower and Ian Botham to be removed from Sky's cricket coverage

[Shayan]

Sir Ian Botham’s position as the stellar name among Sky’s cricket pundits looks to be in serious jeopardy.

Sky’s presenters and producers held a meeting recently without Botham and David Gower at which it was made clear the missing pair were no longer the main men of the station’s coverage as they have been for more than 20 years.

Gower, 59, already looks doomed, with Ian Ward replacing him as presenter for the England one-day series against Sri Lanka.

But Botham, 60, also appears on his way out after years in which his standing as England’s greatest all-rounder always made him the first name on the commentary team, irrespective of ability as a pundit.

Sky’s cricket leadership no longer feel his immense performances on the field warrant special privileges in the TV booth.

Meanwhile, the ECB are expected to go to tender next year with their new cricket packages despite the current deals running until 2019.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ar...llow-broadcaster-shakes-cricket-coverage.html

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Dont mind Botham levaing but liked Gower. Still wouldnt mind him leaving as much as Atherton, Nasser, Bumble or Holding.

 

[Bewal Express]

Probably more to do with the economics

 

[Hasan123]

Dont mind Botham levaing but liked Gower. Still wouldnt mind him leaving as much as Atherton, Nasser, Bumble or Holding.

Basically what I was going to put. Be interesting to see who they replace Botham with. Maybe kp seeing as he's injured.

 

[Hasan123]

Any idea on potential replacement for Beefy?

 

[#GreenRoars]

Botham should leave, but they should stick with Gower.

 

[HitWicket]

Gower, 59, already looks doomed, with Ian Ward replacing him as presenter for the England one-day series against Sri Lanka.
l[/url]

Maybe I'm wrong here but didn't Gower previously only present the tests anyway with Ward presenting the limited overs?

Any idea on potential replacement for Beefy?

Sky have no shortage of commentators at the moment and are already rotating around the main group of them for the internationals :

Ian Botham
David Gower
Ian Ward
Nasser Hussain
Michael Atherton
David Lloyd
Michael Holding
Shane Warne
Jayawerdena / a commentator from the touring country)
Nick Knight (limited overs only)

And then a bit of a second tier of :

Mark Butcher
Rob Key
Dominic Cork
Paul Allott
Charles Colvile

 

[Hasan123]

Maybe I'm wrong here but didn't Gower previously only present the tests anyway with Ward presenting the limited overs?



Sky have no shortage of commentators at the moment and are already rotating around the main group of them for the internationals :

Ian Botham
David Gower
Ian Ward
Nasser Hussain
Michael Atherton
David Lloyd
Michael Holding
Shane Warne
Jayawerdena / a commentator from the touring country)
Nick Knight (limited overs only)

And then a bit of a second tier of :

Mark Butcher
Rob Key
Dominic Cork
Paul Allott
Charles Colvile

Yes they do but they might want a full time England one.

 

[The_KING]

I hate Botham so I would love to see him go but Gower should stay. I think he is a good presenter/commentator.

 

[Adrak]

Bumble should leave as well. I don't like his commentary

 

[On_the_up]

Bumble should leave as well. I don't like his commentary

That's heresy on PP.

 

[TestMatch]

Botham repeatedly gets names wrong. It's quite insulting how little effort he makes.

 

[Suleiman]

Gower was great.

But Brexit I guess..

 

[Batman_DB]

They should refresh the team inject some new energy

 

[James]

Hussain and Atherton could just do the whole thing on their own to be honest. Amazing analysts.

 

[Jabo]

Meh

Botham was too biased, Gower is the same but isn't as bad.

What's the chances they go to BT for the Ashes as BT now has the deal?

 

[Cricketrenew]

Both are relics of an era cricket that has passed away.
Both contributed to cricket so I hope they can do some work with cricket.
Botham didn't do as much as I was hoping in being cohesive to all viewers
which is a shame because I admired the way he played.......didn't mind him bias with other teams...

I think it is right Sky refresh the lineup but Bumble should be named Managing Director, Sky King,
Big Boss, no one challenge my authority in the "box man".

 

[Hasan123]

There is no confirmation of this as of yet.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Silence of the lambs

Shame as they are both very good at what they do

 

[Robert]

Botham should leave, but they should stick with Gower.

Agreed.

 

[carbon11]

Need to get rid of Mike holding as well

Ian ward , nasser, atherton , Shane warne , bumble , Vaughan as the main team

Flintoff , Alec Stuart as fill ins

 

[Saj]

Need to get rid of Mike holding as well

Holding is world class. Great knowledge of the game and his analysis is superb.

 

[HitWicket]

Holding is world class. Great knowledge of the game and his analysis is superb.

Agreed even if he does occasionally go down the 'back in my day's route a bit too often at times.

 

[akbarm96]

Sky should get rid of Botham, but please not Sir Gower.
Any ideas whose gonna be the commentator from Pakistan in tests ?

 

[osee_bhai]

Gower is a legend behind the mic, pity.

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

I don't know why they're leaving if true. Makes no sense despite Botham just being an England ****** at times. He commands respect though.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Botham and Gower are absolutely dwarfed by the other commentators.

These two are living in the past. Even Bumble is more current.

Time to go.

 

[Amer69]

Maybe should replace Botham with that non biased ..Robin Jackman ....just kidding!...to be honest Botham isn't on Sky that often anymore, but I don't think he's too bad, probably thinks of it as more of a chore now than a job. Bumble should be on forever..Legend!

 

[Mp812]

BrExit effect . cost cutting

 

[Saj]

Confirmed now.

Both finishing at Sky Sports after the next Test versus Australia.

 

[Mueez]

I’m okay with it as long as Nasser Hussain, Bumble, Atherton and Michael Holding are there in the commentary box...

 

[irfan]

Gower should go to BBC TMS radio, will suit him

 

[Danyaalr01]

All I've seen from Botham is wrong names and bad analysis which the other commentator politely argues. Horrible commentator.

 

[Cricketrenew]

Botham great player but really to biased and not accurate.
Gower is ok but his batting was better.
I get the feeling they maybe picking and choosing what they want to do.....?


All in all I think they probably looking freshen up the team.

 

[Sherlock]

Gower's already moved to the BBC, reading the news, so it isn't a shock because I think it's been coming for some time. Where Botham ends up is going to be interesting though.

 

[QalandarFan]

Lol reports were out 3 years before it happened?

 

[Shaddy86]

Gower is a loss, as for Botham.. good riddance.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Good. They offer nothing. Sky should also try to replace Holding with Bishop.

 

[Inzi_fan_No_1]

Both have been outdated for a long while.

 

[ssuhaide]

Pleased to hear this about Botham. A bitter individual who is even worse as a commentator. A shame about Gower but I have no doubts we will still be hearing his voice somewhere.

 

[Markhor]

Will miss Gower whose commentary was soothing and very easy on the ears without resorting to the hyperbole most modern commentators resort to.

Botham however I won't miss.

 

[IMMY69]

I fear for Botham's health.
He was never a fit looking bloke but have anyone seen his belly recently?

 

[MenInG]

Pleased to hear this about Botham. A bitter individual who is even worse as a commentator. A shame about Gower but I have no doubts we will still be hearing his voice somewhere.

Botham wears his heart on his sleeve - dont think anything wrong with that

 

[Saj]

I fear for Botham's health.
He was never a fit looking bloke but have anyone seen his belly recently?

Voice sounds jaded. Does not look well at all.

 

[MenInG]

[VIDEO - Strong Language warning] David Gower seems to not care about what he's saying on TV anymore

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/1cu1c/scriug" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
.

 

[AFM]

Don't think he knew his mic was still active.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Not clear enough for me, can someone write what he said

 

[Savak]

Lol, it is clear he wants to go out with a bang

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Sad to see Gower go.

 

[silentkiller187]

Botham turned up to the last few days as if he was going on the beach, both seemed to be upset with the decision from Sky, Gower had more sour grapes then beefy but held it in well at the end.

 

[silentkiller187]

Isa Guha, the lady they had lined up to replace Gower as the test match presenter has signed up to be the face of BBC new 100 coverage. Looks like Sky will turn to Rob Key or Ian Ward to step up from the limited overs coverage.

 

[James]

Botham was clearly disgruntled with the decision and just taking the mickey on his last day - Gower to his credit turned out in his usual immaculate shirt & tie, but Beefy was sat there with an unbuttoned shirt, a white vest and denim shorts with trainers. LOL

 

[HitWicket]

Isa Guha, the lady they had lined up to replace Gower as the test match presenter has signed up to be the face of BBC new 100 coverage. Looks like Sky will turn to Rob Key or Ian Ward to step up from the limited overs coverage.

Guha rarely presented much outside the women's games and very ocassional county game. I expect it'll be Nick Knight/Ian Ward doing the current Gower/Ward roles (one way round or another) and the likes of Key and Butcher slotting in for Botham.

 

[Saj]

Botham turned up to the last few days as if he was going on the beach, both seemed to be upset with the decision from Sky, Gower had more sour grapes then beefy but held it in well at the end.

Yes it was dress-down days for Beefy.

I think Sky's coverage needs a freshen-up and Beefy needed to be moved on.

 

[shaz619]

Yes it was dress-down days for Beefy.

I think Sky's coverage needs a freshen-up and Beefy needed to be moved on.

Beefy needs to be taken behind a barn just like in Old Yeller

 

[Rana]

So Gower gets the chop but Isa Guha stays?

How does that make sense??

 

[ManFan]

Beefy needs to be taken behind a barn just like in Old Yeller

“Old Yeller?”

“Are you kidding me?”

“I said, I got you Old Yeller!”

(Ensue slap)

“What are you gonna do about that”?

 

[Last Monetarist]

It's just more cost-cutting from Sky. Botham and Gower were their two highest-paid commentators and it was a pragmatic commercial decision more than a desire to freshen things up. The coverage would be much poorer for it if they are replaced by ordinary commentators such as Key or Knight or Butcher.

However, if they are serious about changing the presentation dynamic and the tone of the coverage, then they should look to recruit people like Ponting, Pollock, and McCullum on a full-time basis.

 

[Markhor]

It's just more cost-cutting from Sky. Botham and Gower were their two highest-paid commentators and it was a pragmatic commercial decision more than a desire to freshen things up. The coverage would be much poorer for it if they are replaced by ordinary commentators such as Key or Knight or Butcher.

However, if they are serious about changing the presentation dynamic and the tone of the coverage, then they should look to recruit people like Ponting, Pollock, and McCullum on a full-time basis.

Butcher is a terrific pundit and would be an upgrade on Botham. I listen to him on ESPN's Switch Hit podcast and he's not afraid to call out B.S. when he sees it.

Pollock and Ponting are excellent but McCullum is as vanilla as it gets.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Butcher is a terrific pundit and would be an upgrade on Botham. I listen to him on ESPN's Switch Hit podcast and he's not afraid to call out B.S. when he sees it.

Pollock and Ponting are excellent but McCullum is as vanilla as it gets.

McCullum was excellent during the World Cup, particularly when it came to analyzing field placements and pointing out why captains were making certain decisions. Sure he's no Ponting or Hussain, but I think there's a lot of potential. He's certainly better than Warne.

Fair enough on Butcher, it's not correct to lump him in with Key and Knight.

I think Sky need to mix it up a bit like Channel 4 did when they came in.

 

[silentkiller187]

Butcher is a good pundit and will do well if he gets the promotion, he has a good dynamic with key and Ian ward in the county matches and it is entertaining to watch, they come with the right blend of humour and analysis. I think the eventual plan will be to make space for the next up and coming ex pro, most likely Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson doesn’t have the charisma.

 

[PakLFC]

Beefy needs to pick another court fight with IK. Win that one and millions could be his!

 

[Last Monetarist]

It's been absolutely excruciating to listen to Knight and Key during this test so far, all the very worst aspects of mateship commentary mastered by latter year Channel Nine. Key is decent enough on domestic cricket or on some of the podcast features on sky, but he's too inane to be a frontline test match commentator. All in all, it's a step down for sky's coverage.

 

[Saj]

Holding, Atherton and Hussain are carrying the Sky commentary.

The rest may as well not be there.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Holding, Atherton and Hussain are carrying the Sky commentary.

The rest may as well not be there.

Agreed, utter disappointment and exactly what I feared when they let Gower go.

 

[gazza619]

Holding, Atherton and Hussain are carrying the Sky commentary.

The rest may as well not be there.

These are the greatest commentators and have amazing insight on the game.

I genuinely dont think the next batch of commentators would be as good.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Sky's commentary box is very overhyped, especially in last decade. I personally find their commentary needlessly political and self-righteous.

Their best era was clearly during 2000s.

 

[MenInG]

Holding, Atherton and Hussain are carrying the Sky commentary.

The rest may as well not be there.

Is there a better commentary team in the world?

 

[Last Monetarist]

Can't believe I am stating this but I even miss Botham and Warne's moaning after listening to some of the insipid commentary from Knight, Key, and Rainford-Brent.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Right now I’m only interesting in listening to Hussain, Atherton and Holding. They should try to get Ian Bishop or Ian Smith

 

[Last Monetarist]

Right now I’m only interesting in listening to Hussain, Atherton and Holding. They should try to get Ian Bishop or Ian Smith

Apparently Bishop is serving quarantine right now and will join the coverage from Saturday.

 

[Kroll]

Can't believe I am stating this but I even miss Botham and Warne's moaning after listening to some of the insipid commentary from Knight, Key, and Rainford-Brent.

Beefy's not everyone's cup of tea but a hawk like him brings a bit of balance to counter all the doves. It's always interesting to hear the other side of the story.

 

[Markhor]

Sky's commentary box is very overhyped, especially in last decade. I personally find their commentary needlessly political and self-righteous.

Their best era was clearly during 2000s.

Well compared to Sanjay, Sunny and Harsha who wrap themselves in the tricolour; Ramiz and Bazid "king of dad jokes" Khan; every single Sri Lankan commie bar Sanga; everyone with a live mic in Bangladesh; and nearly all the Australian commentators - Sky are obviously a league ahead.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Well compared to Sanjay, Sunny and Harsha who wrap themselves in the tricolour; Ramiz and Bazid "king of dad jokes" Khan; every single Sri Lankan commie bar Sanga; everyone with a live mic in Bangladesh; and nearly all the Australian commentators - Sky are obviously a league ahead.

Savage )

 

[andy0204]

Well compared to Sanjay, Sunny and Harsha who wrap themselves in the tricolour; Ramiz and Bazid "king of dad jokes" Khan; every single Sri Lankan commie bar Sanga; everyone with a live mic in Bangladesh; and nearly all the Australian commentators - Sky are obviously a league ahead.

I disagree Channel 9 commentary was on par with the likes of Tony Greig,Bill Lawry,Ian Chappell.

 

[Markhor]

I disagree Channel 9 commentary was on par with the likes of Tony Greig,Bill Lawry,Ian Chappell.

Talking about modern day bunch. Those guys were legends.

 

[Last Monetarist]

I disagree Channel 9 commentary was on par with the likes of Tony Greig,Bill Lawry,Ian Chappell.

About 15 years ago yes, however, sky are leagues ahead of any current Australian broadcaster despite any minor complaints.

 

[Saj]

I like Bumble's commentary.

He's fun, doesn't take things too seriously and brings out the fun side of the likes of Atherton and Hussain.

 

[MenInG]

v<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wasim Akram will be the Pakistani commentator for Sky Sports during the England versus Pakistan series <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1280465279739461632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[TeymurBlake]

The commentary from Sky has usually been acceptable. Athers, Hussain and Holding are brilliant. Knight and Key will improve and prove there worth. Ian Bishop coming on will help.