30 years of commentary on Channel 9

[spell_check]

This year marks 30 years that Channel 9 has brought International Cricket coverage to Australia and on affiliate networks around the world. Four commentators have been synonymous with Channel 9 throughout this era - Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry, Tony Greig and Ian Chappell. Benaud and Lawry had been commentating before the WSC broadcasts when they joined Tony Cozier and Fred Trueman for the breakaway matches. Grieg and Chappell became part of the most famous quartet to be 'on the air' upon their retirements.

We have had many commentators come and go - Keith Stackpole, Frank Tyson, Max Walker, Rod Marsh, Greg Chappell, Simon O'Donnell; along with the overseas commentators who have made appearances when their country was touring - Sunil Gavaskar, Geoff Boycott, Cozier, Colin Croft, David Gower, Richard Hadlee, Ian Smith, Ian Botham; and then the current 'support cast' in Mark Taylor and Ian Healy. Mark Nicholas seems to be groomed to take over from Benaud when he does retire.

This thread asks if I've left any other commentators out of the above intro, as well as peoples favourite/least liked commentator, and any favourite moments involving the Channel 9 crew.

[smithy]

Doug Walters was on the comms as well for a while,,, as was a chick whose name escapes me at the moment but she was on during the early to mid 80's...Kate I think....

There is some VERY average commentators in that lot I reckon,,,
Stacky, Marsh, GC, TOny Cozier just bore me to tears but the creme' de la creme' would have to be tubby taylor and simon o'donnell.............GET RID OF THEM PLEASE.......

Taylor.......He has SLOON on the back of his uniform which would suggest his nickname is SLOON.............FFS

How many times does he say :" which would suggest"

As for best commentry - the time the cameras pointed to an asian getting married to a caucasian and Tony greig said " I wonder what boat she just got off of"

[spell_check]

Lol, probably the only time Simon O'Donnell ever changed the tone of his voice was when Darren Gough got his hat-trick in 1999. Tubby called McGrath's hat-trick two years later - has Bill Lawry ever called one? I thought it was an injustice that he did not call Warnie's 700th Test wicket.

[spell_check]

And then there have been the commentators that only were on air during the domestic matches - Peter Taylor, James Brayshaw, Geoff Lawson, Dennis Cometti (for a short time when he joined Ch9), I think Kerry O'Keefe had been there as well.

[smac]

Michael Holding I think commentated for a season or 2 as well, mon.

[locky801]

Hated Lawry as a cricketer but I reckon he is a great commentator, just something about the way he goes about it with his Got immmmmm and one of the best catches u will ever see

[Dogwatcher]

http://www.crikey.com.au/Media-Arts-and ... rantz.html

Week of women? Not over at Nine where the boning continuesThursday, 13 December 2007

Glenn Dyer writes:

On Tuesday, the ABC Radio program AM sent a female reporter off to interview Australia's first acting Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.


There was a bit of politics, but there was a bit of the touchy feely from one woman to another about the symbolism of Ms Gillard's role and the message it sent.


Why AM management didn't send a man to do the interview is a moot point: it was all a bit obvious sending a female reporter.


So what then, amid all this female backslapping, are we to make of other stories this week on the role of women?




Chris McDiven, the Federal president of The Liberal Party: pilloried this week by Pam Williams in the Fin Review for being ineffectual, and given the push by men on the under performing Federal Executive of the party. Blamed for the loss on November 24, she said she was quitting but she was monstered from office by the rightwing in the party, especially from NSW.


McDiven was notable for trying to get as many women as possible into the Liberal Party: so yes Julia Gillard, Penny Wong and others have done wonderfully well, but Chris McDiven has been lined up as the bunny for the failings of a group of menopausal males. And the Federal parliamentary leader of the party, Brendan Nelson, and his deputy, Julie Bishop, couldn't do a thing.


But the most egregious event for women was the 'boning' of the Nine sports reporter, Steph Brantz, revealed this morning.


It merely continues a long line of harassment, abuse and denigration of women reporters, presenters and executives at the Nine Network.


This is the second strike against the returned Nine CEO, David Gyngell. The first was Nine's News and Current Affairs boss, John Westacott, telling reporter Christine Spiteri that she should look for a job at SBS with a "name like hers".


Nine let it be known that Gyngell had criticised Westacott over the Spiteri remarks, but other remarks Westacott made at a book launch involving Nine News reporter and presenter, Ally Langdon, continue to reverberate through the Network.


That's why it verges on the incredible (but nonetheless true) to read of the freezing out of Ms Brantz.


If she was acceptable to soccer players at SBS (and Nine), many of whom earn considerably more than Australian cricketers, and who have egos as big, if not bigger, then why did Nine cave in and exclude her from the coverage of cricket?


Was it a decision by Gyngell or was it one made by the underwhelming Nine Sports boss, Steve Crawley? In the stories this morning, Crawley won't comment, which is gutless.

Either Ms Brantz has been excluded for the reasons she gave in the story, or she wasn't. If it is her on air performance (and it can't be, she's been doing sport for Nine News in the past week) then Nine should say so. It is unfair on her.


The story recalls the way Jessica Rowe was hung out to dry by Nine and Eddie McGuire, the Way Jana Wendt was forced from Sunday and the way countless other female reporters, presenters and executives have been treated at Nine over the years. Of course Nine won't stand up to the cricketers for their reporter. It's cowardly management.


The poor pets of Australian cricket. How would they react to tough-minded reporters like Caroline Wilson from the Age, Jacqueline Magnay of the SMH, or her colleague, Jessica Halloran? And what about cricket writer Chloe Saltau at Fairfax as well?


Steve Crawley didn’t have a problem speaking to Chloe Saltau in the Fairfax papers this morning, extolling the wonderful ratings for the Tuesday night tip and run game (20/20), so why not talk about Ms Brantz? Or does he want to avoid following John Westacott down the path towards making a git of himself and possible legal action?


Nine's biggest problem is that it doesn't have enough female viewers from 16 to 54 years of age. They have deserted the blokey on air and off air culture. The saving grace in all of this is that Ms Brantz says Nine's male cricket commentators went out of their way to help her.


How about the likes of Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor and Richie and Tony, plus Ian Healy (who is presenting sport in Brisbane for QTQ9) do something public like challenge David Gyngell and Steve Crawley to return Ms Brantz to the coverage, or else, and while they are at it, tell the Australian cricket team (all of whom have wives and girlfriends) where to get off.

[Dogwatcher]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/boys ... tml?page=2

Boys' club as insecure as the nightwatchmen
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Jessica Halloran
December 14, 2007


In the first interview of her new job last summer Stephanie Brantz placed a microphone under the cute nose of the model Lara Bingle.

Here was the woman employed by Channel Nine to produce serious reports on cricket, interviewing a model who had previously appeared in a green bikini and cricket pads to promote the Ashes.

I was embarrassed and we now know that Brantz was, too. Who knows what hundreds of thousands of female fans of the game made of it all.

Sadly, Brantz's predicament was hardly surprising.

It would be fair to say that while women can be seen on television, it is preferred that their opinions on sport are not heard. Why? Is it because some of the old boys feel threatened when we put a high heel on their turf?

It was revealed in the Herald this week that Brantz's Channel Nine boss, Steve Crawley, had told her the Australian cricket team "didn't want to be interviewed" by her.

That, we now know, is incorrect.

But while the sexist network bosses keep their jobs and wheel out the same, tired, wrinkled male talent, Cricket Australia is asking for a change.

In an effort to increase the number of women watching and attending the game, Cricket Australia has gone to television and radio broadcasters encouraging them to include female journalists in their coverage. Cricket Australia believes that more women talking about overs, techniques and runs are needed to boost the number of female cricket fans, which is sitting at 35 per cent.

Those who run the networks and the radio stations say that women don't care about the gender of the commentator; they just want someone who knows what they are talking about.

Well, boys, here's the scoop: there are plenty of women who know exactly what they are talking about.

While the AFL manages to have a number of female journalists on television, radio and in print reporting and commenting on the state of the game, the number of women covering NRL, rugby union and cricket is dismally low.

One of the only sports programs that showcases women's views on sport, the ABC's Offsiders, features the respected AFL reporter Caroline Wilson and my Herald colleague Jacquelin Magnay, who has covered sport for 20 years.

Magnay has seen many talented women fall through the cracks in TV and she knows why.

"They offer women jobs and say it's not a token offer but when then the women show they are more than capable, the men are threatened and inevitably withdraw support from them in that position," she says.

More than 20 years ago, the actress and writer Kate Fitzpatrick made history by being the first woman in the Channel Nine cricket commentary box - and she was quickly turfed out.

Fitzpatrick felt empathy for Brantz yesterday. But she was also in stitches when told that Crawley had informed Brantz the players did not want to be interviewed by her.

"That sounds like the biggest load of bullshit," Fitzpatrick said. "I've never heard of a cricket player not wanting to talk to a woman in my life."

Fitzpatrick said there had been little movement at the cricket microphone because the men that held the position there were insecure.

"Those guys are terrified of losing their jobs," she said. "They have been since I stepped into the cricket commentary box back in the 1980s … Some of those guys are appalling at their job. Everyone watches it on the TV, turns off the sound and listens to it on the ABC. No one listens to what those men have to say on Channel Nine.

"They make out like it's difficult," she says. "They just need to teach a woman how to call it ball by ball. It's not rocket science."

Strangely, Fitzpatrick made it a step further than Brantz back in the 1980s, by making it into the commentary box - if only briefly.

"I did have a lot of sympathy for her," Fitzpatrick said. "When I heard she had taken the job I thought, 'She's on a hiding to nothing'."

After the Bingle interview, the summer didn't get any better for the latest casualty of the brotherhood that runs TV sport. Brantz was never given the opportunity to interview cricketers or to file reports on the game.

Still under contract with the network, she was a brave woman to speak out publicly against the "blokey" culture at Channel Nine. Hopefully, some day, someone will take note of her words and have the courage to change the sexist sporting landscape.

And hopefully, then we won't have to hear from giggly bikini models dressed up as cricketers any more.

[Dogwatcher]

Spelly, the first female commentator was Kate Fitzpatrick.
I'm too young to remember her one test effort with any clarity.

However, what I saw of Stephanie Brantz was very ordinary also. But...maybe if she'd been given the chance to actually commentate she might have provided something more.

Zoe Goss also had a stint as a commentator, albeit brief (I think her dismissal of one Brian Lara in a tribute game gave her a measure of credibility) - and from what I remember did a good job.

It would be nice to hear some female voices in the box*, be better than O'Donnell and Taylor that's for sure.

Sorry to add two yarns plus a comment on female commentators, Spelly's initial post sent me in that direction.

Returning to the topic I don't mind Mark Nicholas, although I almost get the feeling he's looking down on some of his fellow commentators (for example when Michael Slater was interviewing Michael Clark and he mentioned Lara Bingle, Nicholas twice butted in to change the topic, despite Pup actually relating a lot of his current form to have a sturdy relationship) and viewers at times. However, you can't fault his cricket knowledge.

I despise Tony Greig - he's a bore (pardon the pun), and while as much as I love Richie, it might be time for him to step aside. He seems a little lost sometimes. Sadly. Now that Bradman's gone, he's our Grand Old Man of cricket and I wish him a long life still to come.

I actually like Slater. Like his batting he can be effervescent. Another who would be a good pick up for Nine would be Greg Blewett. His work that I've seen on other networks is very good. Understated.

Michael Holding was good when he was around. Although for a man who once kicked a stump over in New Zealand, I find his comments on player behaviour sometimes laughable.

I also enjoyed Frank Tyson back in the day.

As far as Nine goes, the team needs a bit of a shake-up. I'm over Lawry - you can only hear the same comments so many times. It would be nice if Heals was a little less blunt and a little less one eyed at times - but that's how he made his career as a player too.

[RustyCage]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/boys-club-as-insecure-as-the-nightwatchmen/2007/12/13/1197135651501.html?page=2

Boys' club as insecure as the nightwatchmen
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Jessica Halloran
December 14, 2007


In the first interview of her new job last summer Stephanie Brantz placed a microphone under the cute nose of the model Lara Bingle.

Here was the woman employed by Channel Nine to produce serious reports on cricket, interviewing a model who had previously appeared in a green bikini and cricket pads to promote the Ashes.

I was embarrassed and we now know that Brantz was, too. Who knows what hundreds of thousands of female fans of the game made of it all.

Sadly, Brantz's predicament was hardly surprising.

It would be fair to say that while women can be seen on television, it is preferred that their opinions on sport are not heard. Why? Is it because some of the old boys feel threatened when we put a high heel on their turf?

It was revealed in the Herald this week that Brantz's Channel Nine boss, Steve Crawley, had told her the Australian cricket team "didn't want to be interviewed" by her.

That, we now know, is incorrect.

But while the sexist network bosses keep their jobs and wheel out the same, tired, wrinkled male talent, Cricket Australia is asking for a change.

In an effort to increase the number of women watching and attending the game, Cricket Australia has gone to television and radio broadcasters encouraging them to include female journalists in their coverage. Cricket Australia believes that more women talking about overs, techniques and runs are needed to boost the number of female cricket fans, which is sitting at 35 per cent.

Those who run the networks and the radio stations say that women don't care about the gender of the commentator; they just want someone who knows what they are talking about.

Well, boys, here's the scoop: there are plenty of women who know exactly what they are talking about.

While the AFL manages to have a number of female journalists on television, radio and in print reporting and commenting on the state of the game, the number of women covering NRL, rugby union and cricket is dismally low.

One of the only sports programs that showcases women's views on sport, the ABC's Offsiders, features the respected AFL reporter Caroline Wilson and my Herald colleague Jacquelin Magnay, who has covered sport for 20 years.

Magnay has seen many talented women fall through the cracks in TV and she knows why.

"They offer women jobs and say it's not a token offer but when then the women show they are more than capable, the men are threatened and inevitably withdraw support from them in that position," she says.

More than 20 years ago, the actress and writer Kate Fitzpatrick made history by being the first woman in the Channel Nine cricket commentary box - and she was quickly turfed out.

Fitzpatrick felt empathy for Brantz yesterday. But she was also in stitches when told that Crawley had informed Brantz the players did not want to be interviewed by her.

"That sounds like the biggest load of bullshit," Fitzpatrick said. "I've never heard of a cricket player not wanting to talk to a woman in my life."

Fitzpatrick said there had been little movement at the cricket microphone because the men that held the position there were insecure.

"Those guys are terrified of losing their jobs," she said. "They have been since I stepped into the cricket commentary box back in the 1980s … Some of those guys are appalling at their job. Everyone watches it on the TV, turns off the sound and listens to it on the ABC. No one listens to what those men have to say on Channel Nine.

"They make out like it's difficult," she says. "They just need to teach a woman how to call it ball by ball. It's not rocket science."

Strangely, Fitzpatrick made it a step further than Brantz back in the 1980s, by making it into the commentary box - if only briefly.

"I did have a lot of sympathy for her," Fitzpatrick said. "When I heard she had taken the job I thought, 'She's on a hiding to nothing'."

After the Bingle interview, the summer didn't get any better for the latest casualty of the brotherhood that runs TV sport. Brantz was never given the opportunity to interview cricketers or to file reports on the game.

Still under contract with the network, she was a brave woman to speak out publicly against the "blokey" culture at Channel Nine. Hopefully, some day, someone will take note of her words and have the courage to change the sexist sporting landscape.

And hopefully, then we won't have to hear from giggly bikini models dressed up as cricketers any more.

There will be a female commentator in cricket when they find a good female commentator of cricket. Brantz wasn't good, from what Ive read Fitzpatrick was woeful, the female they had in South Africa didn't know what she was talking about. Get some retired female cricketers in there, people who know what they are talking about.

[Hondo]

Max Walker spoke at a work function a couple of years ago and gave an interesting insight into Tony Greig's and Ian Chappell's longevity on Ch 9.

Apparently because of what both guys gave up to go with Kerry Packer's WSC - particularly Greigy who gave up the England Captaincy never to play test cricket again and ostrocised from the MCC establishment for years - Packer promised both of them jobs 'for life' with Channell 9. With Greigy the gratitude extended to paying off significant personal debts at the time.

It's not what you know sometimes .....

[spell_check]

Michael Holding I think commentated for a season or 2 as well, mon.

That's one I forgot to add in there, and Slater.

On the subject of women commentators, if the Cricinfo journalist Jenny Thompson can translate her print articles and text commentary over to the television set, I reckon we have a more than decent womens' commentator. She actually lives in Adelaide now, coming over from England.

[Dogwatcher]

There will be a female commentator in cricket when they find a good female commentator of cricket. Brantz wasn't good, from what Ive read Fitzpatrick was woeful, the female they had in South Africa didn't know what she was talking about. Get some retired female cricketers in there, people who know what they are talking about.

You make a very good point. I was going to write that, but thought my commentary on female commentators had gone on long enough. I was going to suggest that someone like Belinda Clarke would have a very good knowledge of the game and would be worth a look.

[Dogwatcher]

Max Walker spoke at a work function a couple of years ago and gave an interesting insight into Tony Greig's and Ian Chappell's longevity on Ch 9.

Apparently because of what both guys gave up to go with Kerry Packer's WSC - particularly Greigy who gave up the England Captaincy never to play test cricket again and ostrocised from the MCC establishment for years - Packer promised both of them jobs 'for life' with Channell 9. With Greigy the gratitude extended to paying off significant personal debts at the time.

It's not what you know sometimes .....

I agree on this too (gee I'm agreeable today) I've often figured that their longevity had a lot to do with this. Greig in particular suffered considerably from his decision to join Packer's Circus. I think he'd be one of the few players who received death threats. He also spent the most time in the courts of any of the players. Under different circumstances the gaffes of Greig and Chappell in the commentary box would have seen them go the way of Doug Mulray.

[locky801]

Don't really think Chappelli is all that bad but I am biased as he had a bit to do with cricket coaching with me many many years ago, I think he still has a good feel for the game and I used to love the way he took the quickies on. But each to their own opinion I guess

[Dogwatcher]

i wasn't necessarily saying Chappelli's a bad commentator, but he's had some amazing stuff ups over the years. Others would have got the ar*e for them.
Have you read his last book Locky? I think it was called Chappelli Speaks, very interesting.

[locky801]

i wasn't necessarily saying Chappelli's a bad commentator, but he's had some amazing stuff ups over the years. Others would have got the ar*e for them.
Have you read his last book Locky? I think it was called Chappelli Speaks, very interesting.

No haven't read it, must go and grab a copy, I have heard from a couple of other people it is fairly good

[westozfalcon]

Ian Chappell has been my favourite over all the years. He has been able to move with the times of modern day cricket whilst still giving the odd recollection and comparison from bygone eras. He has excellent knowledge of the game a good sense of humour and importantly is unbiased in his commentary.

[spell_check]

Max Walker spoke at a work function a couple of years ago and gave an interesting insight into Tony Greig's and Ian Chappell's longevity on Ch 9.

Apparently because of what both guys gave up to go with Kerry Packer's WSC - particularly Greigy who gave up the England Captaincy never to play test cricket again and ostrocised from the MCC establishment for years - Packer promised both of them jobs 'for life' with Channell 9. With Greigy the gratitude extended to paying off significant personal debts at the time.

It's not what you know sometimes .....

I agree on this too (gee I'm agreeable today) I've often figured that their longevity had a lot to do with this. Greig in particular suffered considerably from his decision to join Packer's Circus. I think he'd be one of the few players who received death threats. He also spent the most time in the courts of any of the players. Under different circumstances the gaffes of Greig and Chappell in the commentary box would have seen them go the way of Doug Mulray.

I think what tipped Greig to move to Australia was that his young daughter wasn't invited to a birthday party because he had joined WSC. What he went through was pretty bad; from the caviar establishment set in England, to the general public.

[Strawb]

I have always enjoyed listening to Bill GOTTTT HIIMMMMMMMM Lawry. Richie is always a favourite I am not much of a fan of Ian Healy loved him as a cricketer but i am not a fan of his commentary. The other Channel 9 Commentator I enjoy is Two Dogs.