I'll have a go at you instead
Signs of desperation from the Australian press contingent: sledging the Indian commentators on television. Funny, I never noticed them having any problems with the Indian commentators when the Australians were winning in 2004-5. Incidentally, the crack about LS commenting on Ganguly's biceps is unbelievably idiotic - Ganguly was gesturing to Bhajji in the pavilion, and LS was having a go at Ganguly, not admiring him. But I guess things are falling apart in the press box as well. Silly season.
posted by Samir Chopra at 10:29 AM
11 Comments:
especially the comment about Shastri is just absolutely absurd. He is one of the top commentators out there right now, with an amazing voice and very thoughtful, informed insight. To call him boring is just absurd to me
Pathan: The whole article was strange; smacked of chips on shoulders.
Samir, Leaping Larry is not a cricket commentator in the box in India. He is a TV critic watching the cricket on his telly here in Melbourne.
For what it's worth from me. The TV commentary, from both the Aussie and Indian commentators, has been very pedestrian. Boring, in fact.
Tony,
I agree overall with that assessment of television commentary in general :) I was just surprised by the focus on the Injuns, as I read it. I'd have been less quick on the draw had he been bagging everyone!
Cheers,
Samir
Samir, try reading Peter Roebuck's articles in the SMH. That should give you a different view. He just may migrate to India given his views.
It is the shittiest press in the world... I doubt even the Australians read them!
But yes, gone are the days when commentators were neutral in their opinion. Shastri has sold his soul to the BCCI and Nicholas is the opposite balancing force for Gavaskar. A fine pair they make... a perfect love story!
Ravi 'Anil Kumble is a tall man' Shastri. What a pathetic commentator? He speaks decent English and has a good voice. Other than that, a parody of a commentator.
Psych: Welcome to the blog, and thanks for your comment. I've read a bit of Roebuck over the years. Still can't come to a final call on him - part of it has to do with this writing style, its not direct enough for me - something is slightly off-putting, and something tells me he'll go whichever way the wind blows. Lastly, I suspect him of being a bit of an exoticizer!
Scorp: Shastri is an IPL salesman. And Nicholas is so smarmy at times, its unbelievable.
Raj: His cricket analysis is about par - the rest of it is thinly disguised triumphalism.
Samir, Leaping Larry wrote a prior article bagging the Australian commentators.
If I can find the link, I'll put it here.
Leaping Larry stuff doesn't merit a comment. But I have been those 5 days-- 6 actually -- in the same press box. Ozzie journos had problem with their Indian counterparts who were "loud" and didn't care for "decorum in the press box". I mean a look at Con-man, Saltau, Pierik & Co was a giveaway about the course of the match.
Mr Roebuck - I don't care which camp he belongs - looked more at ease here, munching chicken curry and interacting with vernacular journos as well. Overall, looked likable fellow who apparently had no problem with the Indians.
Tony: Thanks - I'd love to see it.
Som: You should write up your experiences in the press-box. Should make for very interesting reading!
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