Richie Benaud to retire from all commentary

[smac]

Perhaps he retired because he's old, past it and not actually that great at commentary any more? Just a thought.

[Dirko]

Perhaps he retired because he's old, past it and not actually that great at commentary any more? Just a thought.

Trust you to ruin the thread.....

[The Duke]

Thank christ he is retiring, in all honesty it is about 10 years to late. He is always good for a cheap joke.

[Dog_ger]

Any chance of him taking Tony Greig with him?

Unfortunately Kerry Packer promised him a job for life due to him participating in World Series. Looks like the promise is being adhered to even though Mr Packer is no longer with him.

LMFAO

[Rik E Boy]

Something else we can blame teeball for.

regards,

REB

I know Alan McGillvray's retirement was hastened by the plethora of one day cricket. He hated it. Maybe the hold 20/20 has on the cricket world has forced Richie to retire as well. Let's face it, an in depth knowledge of the game is only an optional extra when it comes to calling 20/20.

I think Richie actually likes teeball Hawker. I reckon he's all for anything that puts bums on seats at Cricket matches. Where I disagree with him though is that it's just not cricket.

regards,

REB

[bass_player]

Does this mean Billy Birmingham is going to do another 12th man? perhaps the final dig...... again?

[am Bays]

Something else we can blame teeball for.

regards,

REB

I know Alan McGillvray's retirement was hastened by the plethora of one day cricket. He hated it. Maybe the hold 20/20 has on the cricket world has forced Richie to retire as well. Let's face it, an in depth knowledge of the game is only an optional extra when it comes to calling 20/20.

I remember the 1990-91 test match versus England - the Sunday I think it was - and McGuilvray was in town and did 15 mins in the ABC commentary box, catching up with Brian Johnston who was in town for that test too IIRC. I think Neville Oliver or it might have been Jim Maxwell was able to gethim to call an over.

I can recall I murmour going around the ground as people realised the "McGuillers" was back on the radio, doing what he did best. it was magical stuff.

[Booney]

At a recent dinner I was at Max Walker told a cracking sotry of the first time he met McGillvray. Max leant over to shake his hand and sent piles of stats cards flying out the window into the outer at the G.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I can recall I murmour going around the ground as people realised the "McGuillers" was back on the radio, doing what he did best. it was magical stuff.

And do you know why it was magical stuff? Because McGillvray had the audacity to actually inform listeners and paint mental pictures. I wish today's commentators would learn how to do it.

At the beginning of each over he would do the following run down:
Bowlers name ... left/right arm over/around the wicket.
He would run through the field: 3 slips, gully, point, mid on, mid off, etc, etc.
He would recite the totals of each batsman, the sundries, and the team score.

He commentated each ball in complete detail (where the ball pitched, the shot the batsman played, where it went in the field, etc) without feeling the need to prolong a story about where he was the night before or some running story you lose interest in after about 3-4 deliveries.

If a batsman scored, he would update the scores. If the captain made a change in the field, he would mention it.

At the end of the over he would repeat the two batsmen's scores, sundries and total .. then the bowler's figures.

You could sit and listen to McGillvray and imagine everything that was happening. He probably learned this technique via the synthetic broadcasts.

These days you can be listening for 15 minutes and not have a clue what the score is, but you will know everything about where the commentators had been the night before.

[silicone skyline]

You get Peter Roebuck's political stance on every world issue in the news at the moment.

[Adelaide Hawk]

You get Peter Roebuck's political stance on every world issue in the news at the moment.

Please don't me started on Roebuck.

[am Bays]

I can recall I murmour going around the ground as people realised the "McGuillers" was back on the radio, doing what he did best. it was magical stuff.

And do you know why it was magical stuff? Because McGillvray had the audacity to actually inform listeners and paint mental pictures. I wish today's commentators would learn how to do it.

At the beginning of each over he would do the following run down:
Bowlers name ... left/right arm over/around the wicket.
He would run through the field: 3 slips, gully, point, mid on, mid off, etc, etc.
He would recite the totals of each batsman, the sundries, and the team score.

He commentated each ball in complete detail (where the ball pitched, the shot the batsman played, where it went in the field, etc) without feeling the need to prolong a story about where he was the night before or some running story you lose interest in after about 3-4 deliveries.

If a batsman scored, he would update the scores. If the captain made a change in the field, he would mention it.

At the end of the over he would repeat the two batsmen's scores, sundries and total .. then the bowler's figures.

You could sit and listen to McGillvray and imagine everything that was happening. He probably learned this technique via the synthetic broadcasts.

These days you can be listening for 15 minutes and not have a clue what the score is, but you will know everything about where the commentators had been the night before.

You forgot the golden rule - teh score has to be given at least 3 times an over if the balls are "dots". Beginning, after the 3rd/4th ball and at the end.

My dream is to be driving and Mark Nicholas and Peter Roebuck are crossing the road together and I mistake the brake for the accelerator....

[silicone skyline]

I can recall I murmour going around the ground as people realised the "McGuillers" was back on the radio, doing what he did best. it was magical stuff.

And do you know why it was magical stuff? Because McGillvray had the audacity to actually inform listeners and paint mental pictures. I wish today's commentators would learn how to do it.

At the beginning of each over he would do the following run down:
Bowlers name ... left/right arm over/around the wicket.
He would run through the field: 3 slips, gully, point, mid on, mid off, etc, etc.
He would recite the totals of each batsman, the sundries, and the team score.

He commentated each ball in complete detail (where the ball pitched, the shot the batsman played, where it went in the field, etc) without feeling the need to prolong a story about where he was the night before or some running story you lose interest in after about 3-4 deliveries.

If a batsman scored, he would update the scores. If the captain made a change in the field, he would mention it.

At the end of the over he would repeat the two batsmen's scores, sundries and total .. then the bowler's figures.

You could sit and listen to McGillvray and imagine everything that was happening. He probably learned this technique via the synthetic broadcasts.

These days you can be listening for 15 minutes and not have a clue what the score is, but you will know everything about where the commentators had been the night before.

You forgot the golden rule - teh score has to be given at least 3 times an over if the balls are "dots". Beginning, after the 3rd/4th ball and at the end.

My dream is to be driving and Mark Nicholas and Peter Roebuck are crossing the road together and I mistake the brake for the accelerator....

I couldn't be f'd making it look like an accident, i really couldn't.

[ubeauty]

great commentator and probably one of the most influential characters in the last 50 or so years..........

on the subject of commentators.......the absolute worst would have to be Kerry Okeefe.........total clown !!!....spoils wot is a great abc commentary team...

[The Duke]

great commentator and probably one of the most influential characters in the last 50 or so years..........

on the subject of commentators.......the absolute worst would have to be Kerry Okeefe.........total clown !!!....spoils wot is a great abc commentary team...

Gee wiz ubeauty. If the world was full of people like you it would be a boring place.
Bring on Kerry.

[Adelaide Hawk]

great commentator and probably one of the most influential characters in the last 50 or so years..........

on the subject of commentators.......the absolute worst would have to be Kerry Okeefe.........total clown !!!....spoils wot is a great abc commentary team...

Gee wiz ubeauty. If the world was full of people like you it would be a boring place.
Bring on Kerry.

I like Kerry, he's a funny guy. Sometimes I feel he goes a little over the top though. The thing about Kerry is when he is serious, he's a very good analytical commentator, and I'd like to hear a little more of that.

[Dogwatcher]

Agreed AH.

I have mixed feelings about KOK for the reasons you've mentioned above.

[ubeauty]

great commentator and probably one of the most influential characters in the last 50 or so years..........

on the subject of commentators.......the absolute worst would have to be Kerry Okeefe.........total clown !!!....spoils wot is a great abc commentary team...

Gee wiz ubeauty. If the world was full of people like you it would be a boring place.
Bring on Kerry.

probably mate but im a bit of a purist........