Ian Bishop commentary tribute thread: What an era to be alive in!

[Rana]

I don’t know if this man has a separate commentary thread dedicated to him only, But he deserves one! He’s so good as a commentator! I think easily the best if not close to the best with Ian Smith.

Man I love the way this guy builds up the drama and tension with absolute gems in English. One beautiful example:

“West Indies have lost Hope!

Not all hope,

But they have lost Shai Hope!”

That was brilliant! Even a low profile, low stake T20 match between two lesser sides of world cricket can be made so epic to watch with such excellent work if the commentary is up to that level! This is what commentators must learn. It’s great to be knowledgeable about the game and impart the knowledge, but what matters is the ability to bring to life a game that can be viewed as absolute dead for those who have no understanding of its rules.

Respect!

 

[gazza619]

“remember the name!!!!!” was perhaps his highlight

He talks in such a measured way. Almost as good as an AI tool. Not sure if he gets invited at the PSL. The guy richly deserves a pay rise.

 

[KingKhanWC]

One of the very best. I wish he would take over from Holding at Sky. Nasser and Athers are amazing but the rest this series are boring or moaners.

 

[Rana]

“remember the name!!!!!” was perhaps his highlight

He talks in such a measured way. Almost as good as an AI tool. Not sure if he gets invited at the PSL. The guy richly deserves a pay rise.

He did commentary in PSL when it didn’t clash with IPL

You may not have noticed him because he doesn’t hype up rubbish players like Rizwan.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

He is up there with the best in the business.

Communicates brilliantly and is able to convey the drama and tension of a match without resorting to over hyping the moment

Solid technical knowledge

A real passion for cricket no matter who is playing it

An eye for talent and wanting to see youngsters do well.

Not many commentators tick all the boxes.

 

[Rana]

One of the very best. I wish he would take over from Holding at Sky

Holding was a different gravy. The guy was a Test expert, lovely voice and added a lot of brilliant technical context. Plus he was no nonsense too, he wouldn’t care if his comments would pi$$ people, a group, a particular demographic, gender or nation off

Bishop’s thing is to come alive when the game is entering its tense phase. He just makes iconic moments for history!

 

[shaz619]

Thanks for this thread, because he deserves all the appreciation.

The WI’s have plunged to new lows this century, but this guy has always remained passionate. He’s the Jim Ross of cricket, highly knowledgeable, measured and full off pure love for the game.

It will be sad the day he retires from commentary because nobody can really capture the drama quiet like him.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

“remember the name!!!!!” was perhaps his highlight

He talks in such a measured way. Almost as good as an AI tool. Not sure if he gets invited at the PSL. The guy richly deserves a pay rise.

It was a highlight but for me not the highlight

For me the highlight was Amir to Dilshan the slow build up as Bishop acknowledges the short ball plan of the young Amir.

Then - "he's, scooped it, he's scooped it to short fine leg, straight to shazabe.....Dilshan has failed....on the biggest occasion"

He didn't over egg the moment just slow and calm, but the perfect commentary for a moment that felt like a lifetime when the ball was in the air.

 

[shaz619]

My mount Rushmore in the modern commentary world:

Bumble
Ian Bishop
Nassir
Tony Greig

Holding / Athers / Mark Nicholas - Tough to decide between these three for the final spot.

 

[shaz619]

It was a highlight but for me not the highlight

For me the highlight was Amir to Dilshan the slow build up as Bishop acknowledges the short ball plan of the young Amir.

Then - "he's, scooped it, he's scooped it to short fine leg, straight to shazabe.....Dilshan has failed....on the biggest occasion"

He didn't over egg the moment just slow and calm, but the perfect commentary for a moment that felt like a lifetime when the ball was in the air.

I get goosebumps reading your post because I went back to 2009 and you’ve really captured how Bishop made that moment that much more special, man Amir was destined for greatness, he really was worthy of the comparisons with Wasim & even he would admit he didn’t think he was that good himself at 17/18.

 

[gazza619]

He did commentary in PSL when it didn’t clash with IPL

You may not have noticed him because he doesn’t hype up rubbish players like Rizwan.

Bus kar de yaar. ka pecha chadh de

 

[Rana]

Bus kar de yaar. ka pecha chadh de

First he has to officially retire from T20is

He has to take an oath on the Quran that he will not take back his retirement as well.

 

[gazza619]

First he has to officially retire from T20is

He has to take an oath on the Quran that he will not take back his retirement as well.

A warrior never retires till their last breath

 

[Rana]

A warrior never retires till their last breath

Ok, so then don’t tell me to lay off the ‘warrior’.

 

[mominsaigol]

A warrior never retires till their last breath

He can perform well in odi and he's one of the best test keepers out their.

Not a t20 player though. Pcb has more or less moved on unless saim ayub or farhan cant cement their spots

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

My mount Rushmore in the modern commentary world:

Bumble
Ian Bishop
Nassir
Tony Greig

Holding / Athers / Mark Nicholas - Tough to decide between these three for the final spot.

'Start the car'

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Ian Bishop will end up going down as one of the greatest commentators of all-time. He elevates any match with his commentary.

Also, when you look at the standard of commentary across the board, Bish stands-out even more.

 

[Markhor]

Simply magnificent. The amount of research he puts into the background of a player puts some of his colleagues to shame.

Wonderful voice for broadcasting like many WI commentators. Great combination of technical knowledge and raw passion.

 

[shaz619]

'Start the car'

Legend got his own emoji

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Much better than all the pendu commentators from Asia.

 

[Rafale Nidhal Fan]

My mount Rushmore in the modern commentary world:

Bumble
Ian Bishop
Nassir
Tony Greig

Holding / Athers / Mark Nicholas - Tough to decide between these three for the final spot.

add Bill Lawry too

 

[Rafale Nidhal Fan]

Much better than all the pendu commentators from Asia.

the thing that makes them worse is when their team scores a boundary or gets a wicket they hype the batter/bowler to the moon and when its the opposite they just rue if the batter who got out or the bowler who got hit for six was unlucky like ***....bias 500%

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Up there with Cozier, Benaud and Greig.

I actually think he's better and as in all things sport , we just tend to hype the past a bit more.

His knowledge of local players even in associate nations in the World T20 was unbelievably good.

 

[shaz619]

add Bill Lawry too

Good shout, was it him who called the 92 WC final of was that Richie Benaud?

 

[Vikram1989]

One great work ethic of bishop is that he puts a lots of effort in even knowing the rookie player be it in ipl or international game.He will dig the entire history of that player and props it up with good lines.He even wrote quite a few articles related to genuine talented players in u 19 wcs.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Simply magnificent. The amount of research he puts into the background of a player puts some of his colleagues to shame.

Wonderful voice for broadcasting like many WI commentators. Great combination of technical knowledge and raw passion.

The West Indians have the best voice . As a kid growing up in a very populated Jamaican area , listening to Reggae and enjoying their vibe the accent has become a norm , esp having many friends. The Caribbean commies are very professional too. A word for Fazeer Mohammed too, he is a great commie also.

 

[Rafale Nidhal Fan]

Good shout, was it him who called the 92 WC final of was that Richie Benaud?

Bill Lawry

 

[sweep_shot]

My 5 favorite commentators of all time (not in any particular order):

David Lloyd
Tony Greig
Nasser Hussain
Ian Bishop
Michael Atherton

 

[sweep_shot]

Tony Greig is remembered for his "they are dancing in the aisles here in Sharjah".

Ian Bishop is remembered for his "CARLOS BRATHWAITE! CARLOS BRATHWAITE! REMEMBER THE NAME!"

 

[uppercut]

Ian Smith
Tony Grieg

for sheer drama.

Bill Lawry is highly under rated.

Ian Chappell for his highly nuanced yet very forthright opinions on all things cricket.

 

[TheSultan]

Currently - Ian Bishop is immense.

 

[harshjoshi87]

Ian Bishop now, Michael Holding earlier, Tony Cozier way before, this three have been best commentators from the Caribbean.

 

[harshjoshi87]

Tony Greig is remembered for his "they are dancing in the aisles here in Sharjah".

Ian Bishop is remembered for his "CARLOS BRATHWAITE! CARLOS BRATHWAITE! REMEMBER THE NAME!"

You forgot about your favorite Ranjit Fernando. Cricut, wickut!

 

[Deewana Mastana]

No one combines passion, poise, and piercing analysis quite like Ian Bishop.

Whether it's a crunch World Cup knockout or a quiet evening Test, when Bish speaks, we listen. Bishop’s words carry weight. His voice rises not in hype, but in genuine awe for cricket’s unfolding drama.

His commentary is never just about runs and wickets—it’s about stories, struggles, and glory.

Calm, composed, and deeply insightful, Bishop brings more than just analysis—he brings emotion, respect, and a profound love for the sport.

“He's not just bowling to the batsman. He’s bowling to the moment.”
Describing Shaheen Afridi in full flight.
This is the kind of poetic commentary that makes you feel the game.

His iconic call during Carlos Brathwaite’s carnage in 2016:
“Carlos Brathwaite! Remember the name!”
Chills. Every. Single. Time.

What sets Bishop apart: He’s never afraid to be critical, but always with respect. He holds players accountable while uplifting the sport. That balance? Masterful.

He speaks with dignity. He honors the players, and he reminds us, every time that cricket is more than a game. It’s a stage, and Bishop is its poetic narrator.

Thank you, Ian Bishop. For your integrity. For your passion and for giving us moments that will echo through the ages.

“Cometh the hour… cometh the man.”
Long may your voice be part of this beautiful game.

 

[shaz619]

Excellent analysis of Shaheen’s bowling today by Mr. Bishop, very eloquently explained how useless he has become, I really enjoyed that polite burial.

 

[Josh]

"Caught nothing but fresh air"
Ian Bishop on a dropped catch in Ind vs Aus women ODI World Cup semi-final

 

[charlie007]

“Oh my Ghosh” he exclaimed today when Richa Ghosh hit a long six to bring the difference between runs and balls remaining lower.

 

[Champ_Pal]

After Tony Greig I have not seen anyone who can deliver exhilarating commentary like Bishop. Dude is a legend both with the ball and the mic.

 

[topspin]

My mount Rushmore in the modern commentary world:

Bumble
Ian Bishop
Nassir
Tony Greig

Holding / Athers / Mark Nicholas - Tough to decide between these three for the final spot.

Bill Lawry has to be there as well

 

[topspin]

Top thread by OP. Ian Bishop is a GOAT commie.

I see him as the cricketing version of Peter Drury.

This was a much needed thread after the slander from @Caved12 with this feeble attempt to make him enemy no.1 of Pakistan cricket:

I watched a few games and noticed that Ian Bishop was quite critical of the Pakistani players in this league. He kept pointing out their mistakes, while praising West Indian players even when they were making the same errors. It felt a bit strange listening to his commentary during those matches.

Bringing Rizwan back into the team or not is a separate debate, but if we’re simply commenting on cricket based on the day it was played, then here are my observations. Many people didn’t watch Rizwan’s innings in full or pay close attention to it. He actually played some beautiful shots, including a couple of classy boundaries over the cover and extra cover region. He has also been experimenting with the reverse sweep and scoop shots, and overall he seems to be playing more aggressively, adapting his game to the situation and conditions. At the same time, other commentators rightly praised his game awareness and the quality of his innings.

 

[RexRex]

Bishop was in rich form yesterday

He is a hot commodity in the commentary world. Only Atherton comes close.

 

[Caved12]

So my comments hit that hard that you’re losing sleep and spinning in circles? You’re literally creating new threads just to talk about me, that’s dedication I didn’t ask for. I must’ve really touched a nerve, because apparently some folks here can’t have a peaceful day without mentioning me. Too funny.

I stand by every word I said. I’ve already laid it all out clearly across multiple posts and wrapped up that whole discussion, the only ones still dragging it are those desperate to make it personal. Ian Bishop’s a top commentator and I enjoy listening to him, but like anyone, he can sometimes get a bit fixated on one player instead of keeping the analysis balanced. I already said this in that Rizwan CPL thread, and that should’ve been the end of it.

Anyway, if you want to keep obsessing over my posts, be my guest. I’ll take it as free entertainment.

 

[harshjoshi87]

Ian Bishop
Ian Smith

These two Ians are just superb on the mic at the back end of cricket matches just like how Tony Greig & Bill Lawry used to be.

 

[BouncerGuy]

One of the ATG bowlers and now he is undoubtedly the top 5 commentators of all time...

 

[chinaman00]

My mount Rushmore in the modern commentary world:

Bumble
Ian Bishop
Nassir
Tony Greig

Holding / Athers / Mark Nicholas - Tough to decide between these three for the final spot.

You forgot the greatest of them all:
Richie Benaud

 

[pillionrider]

Ian Bishop is one of the best of this era along with Ian Smith, Ponting and KP (whenever he's available). Shastri has a good instinct for the game and situations too.

btw, the remember the name line which was legendary and iconic has been done before. Was watching an old Messi game that I had downloaded a decade and half back and I heard someone use this very line.

 

[TheSultan]

I separate commentators in to different categories.

The entertainers - Bill Lowry, Tony Greig, Bumble, Danny Morrison, Ian Smith

The deep analysers - Ian Bishop, Ian Chappell, Michael Holding, Simon Doull, Nasser, Athers,Ponting

You need both types to complement each other, and currently Bish is top of the pile.

 

[Rana]

So my comments hit that hard that you’re losing sleep and spinning in circles? You’re literally creating new threads just to talk about me, that’s dedication I didn’t ask for. I must’ve really touched a nerve, because apparently some folks here can’t have a peaceful day without mentioning me. Too funny.

I stand by every word I said. I’ve already laid it all out clearly across multiple posts and wrapped up that whole discussion, the only ones still dragging it are those desperate to make it personal. Ian Bishop’s a top commentator and I enjoy listening to him, but like anyone, he can sometimes get a bit fixated on one player instead of keeping the analysis balanced. I already said this in that Rizwan CPL thread, and that should’ve been the end of it.

Anyway, if you want to keep obsessing over my posts, be my guest. I’ll take it as free entertainment.

But you were making it up.

You can stand by a lie all you want. You do that anyways with your unconditional support of Rizwan. It still doesn’t mean you are honest and trustworthy!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Ian Bishop is one of the best of this era along with Ian Smith, Ponting and KP (whenever he's available). Shastri has a good instinct for the game and situations too.

btw, the remember the name line which was legendary and iconic has been done before. Was watching an old Messi game that I had downloaded a decade and half back and I heard someone use this very line.

You know this may be the first time I've actually seen someone praise KP the commentator.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I separate commentators in to different categories.

The entertainers - Bill Lowry, Tony Greig, Bumble, Danny Morrison, Ian Smith

The deep analysers - Ian Bishop, Ian Chappell, Michael Holding, Simon Doull, Nasser, Athers,Ponting

You need both types to complement each other, and currently Bish is top of the pile.

Good split.

And the entertainers are still shrewd observers of the game. They are just naturally entertaining characters.

The worst commentators are those without that spark but try to become entertainers. Aussies went through a face where they had commentators and analysts just having banter and it got boring quickly.

 

[RexRex]

You know this may be the first time I've actually seen someone praise KP the commentator.

He's one of those commentators that can be really annoying but has had some great moments as well. Like that clip of the girl chugging down the beer.

 

[TheSultan]

Good split.

And the entertainers are still shrewd observers of the game. They are just naturally entertaining characters.

The worst commentators are those without that spark but try to become entertainers. Aussies went through a face where they had commentators and analysts just having banter and it got boring quickly.

Very true. There’s a lot of try hards in both Categories.

I don’t know if anyone remembers, I think Sky tried to make Bob Willis in to the pommie Bill Lawry. He even tried the “on fire” line. Really did not work. Glad old Bob found his calling in The Verdict!

We have our own wannabes.

Entertainer Rambo

Deep analyser Amir Sohail

Dry humour guy Bazid

 

[OldWarHorse]

Ian Bishop is one of the best of this era along with Ian Smith, Ponting and KP (whenever he's available). Shastri has a good instinct for the game and situations too.

btw, the remember the name line which was legendary and iconic has been done before. Was watching an old Messi game that I had downloaded a decade and half back and I heard someone use this very line.

Yes. "Remember the name Wayne Rooney" was actually quite a famous quote when 16 year old Rooney scored to beat an unbeaten Arsenal side. Its definitely been used before

 

[topspin]

You know this may be the first time I've actually seen someone praise KP the commentator.

A very odd choice. Probably more to do with KP’s association with IPL through his playing and commentary career more than anything.

 

[topspin]

Honourable mentions:

Danny Morrison - for his entertainment

Simon Doull - for his brutal honesty. He was the first one to expose Babar’s batting credentials

 

[hassan918]

Bishop seems to have too much knowledge about the game and he covers all kinds of crickets including youth cricket and women cricket. He is one of the best commentators at the moment.

 

[sweep_shot]

Bishop is from the old era. That's why he is very good.

Commentators from pre-2010 years were mostly all good.

 

[Bhaijaan]

“Is this the day that the rainbow nation finds the pot of gold at the end?”

- Ian Bishop
ICC T20 2024 Final , India vs South Africa


“Wide.. Muller gets it, and he gets plenty of it! Does he ?? Nooooo! What a catch! Oh My God! Unbelievable what I’ve just seen! Athleticism at its very very best.”

- Ian Smith
ICC T20 2024 Final , India vs South Africa

Two of the finest pieces in the recent times, in the same game.