Your impressions of New Zealand TV Commentators

[LegendAli]

I do not see the issue with biased commentators. They are not umpires - they do not need to be neutral. We all know that NZ commentators will want NZ to win, so what's wrong if they're honest about it?

100% agree.

You're playing in enemy territory, biased home team commentary should be the last of your worries whether listening to it in the stadium or anywhere else in the globe.

 

[DeadBall]

I agree. Past two games they were raving at Pak bowlers restricting NZ batsmen for runs, the fielding, and the fact that Pak had runs on the board for their bowlers to play with. Regarding Fakhar's decision, Waqar made a good point of how can the on-field umpires give a soft signal when they are too far to see the fielder at the boundary line. At the very least, Fakhar's wicket was fishy.

The thing is the LAW is clear that if there isn't proof beyond a doubt then the soft signal will take priority. The same thing happened with Steve Smith a couple of days ago. As the commentators were saying they should just get rid of the soft signal because its pointless. If you are going to use the technology then whats the point of a soft signal which is prone to human error.

 

[CricFan2012]

Nothing wrong with NZ commentators

 

[Saj]

Garbage commentory ...very biased and sometimes too annoying wanna mute tv when they were moaning for nothing and making Fakhar out to be right.

I expect comms to be a little biased, that is expected as many of them have played for thier country, but these guys take it to a new level.

 

[shane]

On the point of biased commentators, I think that Ian Bishop is a fantastic commentator. But one issue I have with him is that he will rarely criticise WI players or cricket board. I don't know why. Maybe it is to keep on the good side of the WICB. Anyway, it is a case of a commentator being far too neutral in the sense of seemingly not caring if his team does badly.

 

[Pete Rose]

That was just one example... and not my only complaint.

They alll had a laugh at Scottie Stryis when Pakistan were fielding and they stopped a ball driven along the ground and Simon Doull said ‘according to Scottie, that’s out’
You will find bias is that’s all you spend your time looking forward.

 

[Pete Rose]

I expect comms to be a little biased, that is expected as many of them have played for thier country, but these guys take it to a new level.

All I saw was effusive praise for Pakistan when they made a comeback in the series

 

[CadPakFan]

I personally don't find much wrong with the commentary, they'll be biased of course since they're rooting for NZ but they praise Pakistan when it is required and that's all that I care about so I see nothing wrong here.

 

[Saj]

All I saw was effusive praise for Pakistan when they made a comeback in the series

A little bit of praise mixed in with a lot of nonsense and biased commentating especially when it came to umpiring decisions.

 

[Pakpak]

I thought they were biased at the start but I mean we didn't help ourselves by getting smashed. They started the series with ''boy will we be tested, Pakistan are no Windies'' but that's what we proved to be during the ODIs. They were alright in T20s and today as well praising our bowling.

 

[clean n cool]

Ian Smith's commentary has been the antidote to cliche and claptrap... let's have more of him please

SAM MORSHEAD: "Eloquent but never so flowery as to risk inclusion in Pseud's Corner, passionate about the performance of his native country without being blinkered... it is a pleasure to have Smith as our host

Is there a better TV commentator in world cricket than Ian Smith?

After the loudhaler approach of the Channel Nine team in Australia, and the bombastic mix of self-congratulation and verbal diarrhea that defined large parts of the Ashes on BT Sport, the general tempo and tone of the commentary in New Zealand has been highly therapeutic.

Michael Atherton and David Lloyd have added intelligent insight from a touring perspective, complementing a homegrown line-up which is comfortable in letting the pictures tell their own stories.

Doing away with hyperbole - with the exception of the bizarre moment in Auckland when media employee Mark Richardson popped out the brain **** that was “I hate the media” - the Kiwi voiceovers have been calm, considered and constructive.

And at the heart of it all has been Smith; a gentle-voiced giant of the commentary world.

Able to pick out intricate detail in an instant and methodically explain his point to the viewer, Smith is the absolute antithesis to the macho nonsense that pained so many ears earlier in the winter.

Eloquent but never so flowery as to risk inclusion in Pseud's Corner, passionate about the performance of his native country without being blinkered as a result and equipped with a repertoire of anecdotes which can perk interest even when the game is limping along at a crawl; Smith’s is the example that all other television commentators should be taught to follow.

Calling a game of cricket is such a subtle art and the Kiwi is blessed with a natural understanding of when to speak, what to say and how crucial it is to at times keep one’s counsel - increasingly rare in the modern game.

Smith is no stranger to English viewers, of course - he has spent the odd summer with Sky and Channel Four in the past - but during this short bolt-on to England’s dismal trip to Australia, a reminder has been served of how enjoyable it is to watch a game of cricket with the 61-year-old as our host.

Rain breaks pass much quicker when the soundtrack includes Smith regaling his audience with the tale of how he first came across Kane Williamson as a teenager in schools cricket or describing the astronomic cost of hiring out Eden Park.

Sky have a tried-and-tested squad in place for their summer coverage but the broadcaster could do much, much worse than look to the former New Zealand wicketkeeper for a full-time role - if he’d be interested.

In today’s T20 world, loudness and largesse have become the voices of the game. Smith offers the antidote to the cliches and the claptrap.

Let’s have more of him, please."

http://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/opinion/ian_smith's_commentary_has_been_the_antidote_to_cliche_and_claptrap..._let's_have_more_of_him_please.html

 

[Jo_Don]

All commentary will be biased towards the home country, some a bit more than the others.

Hence the 3-man teams that broadcasters such as SuperSport and others have started doing. They started bringing in commentators from the touring side, as well as a few neutrals like Holding.

This is meant to provide a more balanced view, and add a bit of banter as well.

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

Hawke's Bay-based international cricket commentator and record-breaking former cricket international Ian Smith has been named winner of one of New Zealand Cricket's most prestigious awards.

NZC decided to go ahead with the presentation of the Bert Sutcliffe Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Cricket despite the Covid-19 crisis and it took place via video conferencing, with Smith at his home in the Bay.

First chosen to play for New Zealand in 1980 and becoming one of the World's greatest wicketkeeper-batsmen, Smith received the MBE about the time of his retirement in 1992, and has since commentated hundreds of cricket and rugby matches, mainly for Sky Tv. He was made a life member of New Zealand Cricket in 2018.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=12328024

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Every couple years we have to sit through this painful one sided commentary. Whenever new New Zealand is losing they sound depressed

 

[JibranAnsari]

No insights whatsoever , usually cheerleading.

 

[Mean&Green]

Every couple years we have to sit through this painful one sided commentary. Whenever new New Zealand is losing they sound depressed

Are you okay by far the best commentary and extremely unbiased also they were wanting Pakistan to win more than newzealand I don't know if you were listening to some other commentary but they are not biased one bit

 

[ssuhaide]

Ian Smith is a very passionate guy. Listening to his commentary on the last ball that was dispatched for six you would have not thought he was biased at all.

 

[Anis10]

I actually like New Zealand’s commentary team, even without Ian smith, Simon doul, much better then Australia’s

 

[angrypathan]

They're fairly unbiased now that Simon Doull has not been employed by the new channel. Unfortunately they offer very little in terms of technical analysis, which is what makes Sky UK so impressive

 

[Rana]

This team is better for sure, they do a lot more in trying to make the opposition look stronger than they actually are.

 

[Pacy with wisdom]

I like the new panel...
Macca, brendon, flemming, and that clown Mark Richardson; always a laugh listening to him lol.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Think the coverage is still as bland as it was when Sky NZ were in situ. Inoffensive, but uninteresting.

I'd rank them behind Sky Cricket, Supersport, and Channel 7.

 

[Hasan123]

They are extremely biased but offer good insight. Especially Ian Smith and Simon Doull .

 

[Markhor]

The best commentary teams for me are Sky Sports, the West Indians (Ian Bishop, Jeff Dujon and Fazeer Mohammad especially) and South Africa (just for Shaun Pollock's bowling insights).

Rest are much of a muchness including NZ.

 

[Bewal Express]

Whats the Obsession with the Commies. If you know your cricket, why do you need others to tell you whats happening.

 

[ManFan]

NZ commentary is on par with BD, WI, and SL as being the worst in cricket.

 

[Zaz]

Awful cheerleading once again Its hard to listen to tbh

 

[Mamoon]

Is Simon Doull the most annoying commentator in the world?

 

[Markhor]

Is Simon Doull the most annoying commentator in the world?

Russell Arnold, the Caribbean "GangBad" duo of Daren Ganga and Samuel Badree, Athar Ali Khan and nearly everyone holding a mic in Pakistan have to be worse surely ?

 

[Major]

Russell Arnold, the Caribbean "GangBad" duo of Daren Ganga and Samuel Badree, Athar Ali Khan and nearly everyone holding a mic in Pakistan have to be worse surely ?

Bazid Khan isnt as bad as people make him to be

 

[AAli98]

Simon Doull with a “dirt in pocket” gag at Athers is ruthless