Which players current or former do you enjoy listening to when they talk about cricket?

[Hasan123]

During lockdown I watched plenty of interviews from ex and current players talk about cricket. It got me thinking about who I enjoy listening too.

I enjoy listening too

Michael Clarke
Kumar Sangakkara
Mahela Jayawardene
Kane Williamson
Steve Smith
Michael Holding
Michael Atherton

How about you guys?

 

[Hasan123]

I did have more of course but didn't want to make the list go on forever.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I enjoy Wasim Akram when he talks about the game. Problem is he barely ever talks about the actual game

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Rashid Latif on caught behind is nice or even Tanvir Ahmed if you want someone raw.

 

[Zaz]

Atherton is my favourite commie Hes insightful, knowledgeable and highly educated Hes very balanced and great thinker of the game

 

[ChennaiFan]

Mahela Jayawardene
Akash Chopra
Tom Moody
Wasim Akram when he talks about bowling

 

[Mueez]

Atherton, Nasser Hussain and Michael Holding.

 

[azimiqbal]

Rashid latiff
Micheal holding
Micheal atherton
Geoffery boycott

 

[Thomaskutty]

Atherton is not bad.

The Sky Cricket lockdown podcasts have been enjoyable to listen to, particularly with Rob Key as host.

 

[ahmadharis1]

The SkySports masterclasses are incredible to watch. The Sangakkara one about keeping and the Steve Smith one about his batting were awesome

 

[Last Monetarist]

Ponting, Hussain, McCullum, Latif, Sangakkara, & Holding out of the former players.

Active players that I like listening to are Anderson, Steyn, Williamson, Kohli, Shan Masood, & Holder.

 

[Mamoon]

Among the seasoned commentators, Mark Nicholas, Bishop, Boycott and Atherton.

I enjoy listening to Nasser and Holding unless the former is commentating on Pakistani matches where he turns into an embarrassing cheerleading cliche machine, and Holding is great until he starts whining about India and shows his hypocrisy over IPL.

 

[Ab Fan]

Among active players, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson, two names in particular.

 

[sweep_shot]

Ian Bishop is pretty good. Always love listening to him.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Geoff boycott
Michael holding
Atherton
Rashid latif

 

[shamaan]

Michael holding
Nassar hussain

 

[Saj]

Face to face, Waqar Younis is interesting especially when he talks about some of the funny stories of yesteryear and some of his former team-mates.

I always enjoy chatting with Geoffrey Boycott as he's unpredictable and you know he's going to come up with some interesting comments.

Nasser Hussain is good on commentary and a very nice guy.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I find the English duo of nasser and athers a little overrated as commentators - much like their batting. Their analysis revolves a bit too much around the analytics provided to Sky Sports. I prefer listening to Bish(great analysis of fast bowling) and the commentators from the southern hemisphere like Smith,Clarke,McCullum etc. You can just tell that when they talk of some aspect that they call upon the wealth of experience from their playing days and they keep it very fun and banter-y as well.

 

[Saj]

I think Rahul Dravid talks a lot of sense when he speaks. Always worth noting his comments.

 

[Markhor]

I find the English duo of nasser and athers a little overrated as commentators - much like their batting. Their analysis revolves a bit too much around the analytics provided to Sky Sports. I prefer listening to Bish(great analysis of fast bowling) and the commentators from the southern hemisphere like Smith,Clarke,McCullum etc. You can just tell that when they talk of some aspect that they call upon the wealth of experience from their playing days and they keep it very fun and banter-y as well.

All commentators rely on analytics provided by their production team. But the difference between the top commentators like Nasser and Atherton and the others is that they still remain as insightful and compelling in other mediums.

Atherton's articles for the Times are fantastic, his thorough research and investigation into each subject matter puts some of the professional sports journalists to shame. Nasser has fronted documentaries for Sky, I caught recently him doing an excellent piece on the history of Mumbai cricket.

Most importantly, I never feel they're cheerleaders for the England team. They've absolutely laid the boot in when English performances merited (not difficult given the countless batting collapses lately !) whereas the Southerm Hemisphere commentators, especially the Australians, fly the flag a tad too much.

Part of that is because those players have only recently retired, and so are less likely to want to slag off their mates publicly.

As for fun and banter, the Sky guys rib each other relentlessly. The lockdown podcasts have had me in stitches at times. I just wish Pakistan cricket would service its fans like Sky do for England - because we've got a more entertaining product.

 

[Hawkeye]

Atherton
Michael Holding
Nasser
Sangakkara
Bishop
Possibly Clarke too

This is a dream team for commentating and discussion.