When do the public get a say?

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[Whats wrong with listening to Australian commentatorys??? FFS we've proven over the past 20 years our blokes know more about the tactical and psychologicals aspects of cricket more than any other country does.....

I tended to agree with most of what you said, and I'm with you 100% on this point. For me, part of the pleasure of listening to the Ashes cricket on the radio from England was the commentators such as Brian Johnson, Trevor Bailey, Fred Trueman, etc. Although Alan McGillvray was there as well, there was something magical in hearing the English voices calling the game.

I feel the same way when watching cricket in Australia. I want to hear Aussie voices, and plenty of them. I do like it when Jonathon Agnew and Kerry O'Keeffe get together, it's priceless.

I cannot handle Tony Greig. When he is being interviewed, he can be an interesting person. However, I cannot stomach the way he continues to rubbish the "bad behaviour" of the Australians when he himself was possibly the worst behaved cricketer I have seen on a Test arena.

I'm not sure if "pseudo-intellectual" is the way to describe Peter Roebuck, however I do find him to be pompous and over-bearing. People tell me Mark Waugh was very good in the commentary booth bit I've never heard him. How about giving some more Aussies a go rather than all these overseas personalities?

Mark waugh is good due to being fresh out of the game.

He is far too arrogant for a guy who averaged low 40's. He is too quick to put people down. I sense a negative bitterness about him.

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Chappelli is the best commentator in the game. Says whats on his mind. Great to listen to.

Ian Chappell is fantastic. Would love to have a beer and have a solid 30mins pure cricket talk followed by general talk with him.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Chappelli is the best commentator in the game. Says whats on his mind. Great to listen to.

Ian Chappell is fantastic. Would love to have a beer and have a solid 30mins pure cricket talk followed by general talk with him.

I don't want to be a name dropper, but I've done that, and the experience is every bit as rewarding as you may imagine. If you do meet Chappelli, just treat him like a mate of yours as he has little time for pretentious people. The thing I like about him was if he disagreed with my opinion he just said so. No beating around the bush. I like Chappelli and could listen to him for hours.

[pipers]

Yep - Chapelli gets the No 1 spot in my book. The rest of the old school Ch 9 team can get stuffed. Haven't said anything interesting for over 15 years...

Of the new breed, initially I found Heals good, but now that he isn't as close to the game after 7 years out he is now regressing to the typical Ch 9 "niggle" comments about other commentators.

Tubs is still pretty good though - when you can understand him... "foojidsoo econdisha"

I think Slats does some fantastic work too - has a really good technical knowledge, not only of batting, but also bowling and is a good analyst of the game.

Pick of the Poms is Atherton - he was a vastly underrated captain (unfortunately for him he had some lousy players) and this innate understanding of the game shows through in his comments.

And I love listening to Botham and Holding when they are on together. I'd imagine it's a continuation of the ribbing that must have occured out in the middle in the 70s and 80s - would have been some great stuff.

On the radio, Aggers is a gem, and O'Keefe is great, in small doses... The rest are a bit ho-hum in my opinion.

Oh, and if you think M Wog is a bit negative, take a listen to Kim Hughes one day. OMG!

[westcoastpanther]

Chappelli is the best commentator in the game. Says whats on his mind. Great to listen to.

Chapelli needs to concentrate on commentating and stop trying to coach. If you listen carefully, all he does is pick faults and say what should be done, easy from the box. Gives me the shits!!

[Jimmy]

i was in england for the 01 series and nicholas was good then and i dont mind him.

richie will be stuffed and permanently put in the chair in the central missionary position

[Adelaide Hawk]

Chappelli is the best commentator in the game. Says whats on his mind. Great to listen to.

Chapelli needs to concentrate on commentating and stop trying to coach. If you listen carefully, all he does is pick faults and say what should be done, easy from the box. Gives me the shits!!

That's the whole idea of having commentators. Anyone can say that the bowler is bowling and the batsman is hitting the ball. Chappelli points out the technical flaws in a player and suggests ways in which he can be dismissed. It's the thing a lot of viewers need to be told, and a coaching manual for the kids.

We have enough "commentators", we need analysts. The last thing I want to listen to is a box full of Norman Mays who call the game like an olympic swimming event.

[MagicKiwi]

I thought Warney did an excellent job of commentating while suspended...

[westozfalcon]

I'm with pafc1870. Ian Chappell is streets ahead of the rest. He is a great analyst, is intelligent, unbiased and injects subtle humour into his commentary very well.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I'm with pafc1870. Ian Chappell is streets ahead of the rest. He is a great analyst, is intelligent, unbiased and injects subtle humour into his commentary very well.

Absolutely.