Harsha Bhogle

[thevortex]

Chandan - let me ask you this because no other responses have been forthcoming. What do you make of Arun Lal's commentary?

[Chandan]

Chandan - let me ask you this because no other responses have been forthcoming. What do you make of Arun Lal's commentary?

I don't like Arun Lal's commentary. He seems to be pretty limited in reading the finer sub-plots of the game, for which we cricket lovers, who've never played at the highest level, listen to the commentary. Same with L Shive, Rameez Raza and the Lankan ccommies who are aweful. I was very keen to have Kumble and Ganguly as both are excellent readers of the game and their views could have been incisive for us. But both of them seem to have much better plans for their future than just being a commentator. I like Holding's commentary too, especially when he talks like fast bowler. I liked Benaud too but he used to be quiet in last few years commentary amidst a talkative bunch of commentators. Warne is my favourite. Indian commentators sadly are resorting to the short-cut following the cliche king Shastri.

[vvvslaxman]

Oflate he says lot of inappropriate things. He feels the compulsion he has to talk all the time when he is in the commentary box. So he says too many things and ends up saying something stupid.

[thevortex]

I don't like Arun Lal's commentary. He seems to be pretty limited in reading the finer sub-plots of the game, for which we cricket lovers, who've never played at the highest level, listen to the commentary. Same with L Shive, Rameez Raza and the Lankan ccommies who are aweful. I was very keen to have Kumble and Ganguly as both are excellent readers of the game and their views could have been incisive for us. But both of them seem to have much better plans for their future than just being a commentator. I like Holding's commentary too, especially when he talks like fast bowler. I liked Benaud too but he used to be quiet in last few years commentary amidst a talkative bunch of commentators. Warne is my favourite. Indian commentators sadly are resorting to the short-cut following the cliche king Shastri.

I figure we must agree to disagree on this one. I actually believe that Arun Lal is streets ahead of Wassan and Jadeja at any rate - precisely because he brings out some of the finer points. Him being paired with Sidhu in that IPL show was simply stupid. The Cricket Crazy show they have going on for the World T20 is also pretty distasteful.

[SJS50]

I think Arun Lal is not bad at all. Of course he is better than Wassan. He is better than many other Indians as well. By the way, I mentioned Wassan because he surprised me. By the way, he was a junior (17 year old) bowler in the nets when I left Delhi in the mid eighties but was very nippy and "hit" the bat.. He was from my son's school so my son used to keep asking me what I thought of him. In another year or two he was playing for Delhi and another 2 years later for India. :-) We are so used to crappy commentators. I think he was wasted in Hindi commentary. He was paired with Wasim on this show the other night. He was forthright, wasn't afraid of disagreeing with his senior and did not say anything silly which is the best you can expect from most Indian commentators anyway.

[Gunner_Mania]

Amongts the non-Indians, I think Nick Knight is a very good reader of the game and makes some interesting comments when he comes on as pundit for Sky Sports.

[Guest BossBhai]

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[vvvslaxman]

Ian chappell's problem is generalizing things based on one instance. Very often it came back to bite him. As a commie you should not speculate things based on very few samples.

[Gunner_Mania]

I am surprised Tony Cozier or Ian Smith or Robin Jackman are not part of the Commentary team. It is surprising to see a tournament in the West Indies without the Voice of West Indies.

[vvvslaxman]

I thought IPL had the worst commentary team :cantstop: This is even worse. Ramiz Raja alone singlehandedly will make you hate cricket. Simon Doull, Mbangwa are the only ones who don't irritate me. Worst 1) Ramu (Ramiz) 2) Manju 3) Harsha

[gaurav92]

ESPN Star India's MD, Manu Sawhiney has some problems with him too :winky:

Dear Gaurav, We have witnessed serious problems in our commentary department.We have some good commentators, but some of them just spoils the part with some unnecessary and useless commentary.For example Harsha Bhogle, he keeps saying rubbish most of the times, we have also told him that the fact that he has a mic near his mouth, it is not mandatory to speak every time.But that doesn't seem to have any effect on him.Also Ravi Shastri,he looks as if he is giving a patriotic speech on a big stage surrounded by 10,000 people and he is giving the speech without the mic in his hand.He has broken some window panes, some glasses and plates in the kitchen which is about 200 yards away from the com-box with his monstrous voice bass.They being a part of the commentary team for 10-12 years now, we cant say that "you are fired", so suggest something that they themselves come and resign their job. Manu Sawhiney (Managing Director,ESPN Star India) Reply Dear Manu Sawhiney Well first of all a big hatsoff to those who sit near the com box - the statisticians, analyists reporters and the graphics man etc. whenever Harsha,Ravi are commentating, i really pity them.But now coming to the point, sir, its not just you who are feeling the pain, even the viewers like me are feeling the pain of their commentary.My advice would be to get Navjot Singh Sidhu in your commentary panel and pair him along with each of Ravi and Harsha, give Navjot Sidhu paaji, the license to go for the full attack with the idioms of the supreme quality in relation to describe the incident on the field.Also tell him to make sure that he laughs wildly whenever the other person (Ravi or Harsha speaks).This will just result in a positive outcome for you.The next morning, you will see two resignation letters lying on your table, one of Ravi and the other of Harsha, and your work is done, and talking about how to tackle Sidhu now, well its quite simple isn't it.He is alone and no one is pairing with him, so let him talk, just take away the mic, and give it to someone more audible like Bumble or Mark Nicholas.Till then,ish you luck.

Just an excerpt from my article. Full article Here

[Guest BossBhai]

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[vvvslaxman]

hmmm ... example ?

Other day after seeing just few overs he concluded Afghanistan players don't play fancy shots. As soon as he concluded they played couple of reverse sweeps. Most of the time he would be too quick to judge a situation much like he categorically assess the players quality and form. Most of the time he had to eat his words back.

[Guest BossBhai]

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[Gunner_Mania]

Other day after seeing just few overs he concluded Afghanistan players don't play fancy shots. As soon as he concluded they played couple of reverse sweeps. Most of the time he would be too quick to judge a situation much like he categorically assess the players quality and form. Most of the time he had to eat his words back.

I don't think he said they don't play, he said something along the lines of it was good to see them avoid it because the risk was not worth the rewards and as you say about Ian it was the Chappeli jinx:P

[vvvslaxman]

I don't think he said they don't play' date=' he said something along the lines of it was good to see them avoid it because the risk was not worth the rewards and as you say about Ian it was the Chappeli jinx:P[/quote'] He says things like with certain finality. I have listened to him more than a decade. He doesn't sound stupid. But he tries to form opinions too soon about anyone and anything.

[thevortex]

I am surprised Tony Cozier or Ian Smith or Robin Jackman are not part of the Commentary team. It is surprising to see a tournament in the West Indies without the Voice of West Indies.

Tony Cozier - voice of the West Indies or not - is extremely partisan. I, for one, am glad that he is not there. I do miss Robin Jackman.

hmmm ... example ?

Look in the mirror, Sachin, anybody? :) Ian Chappell does tell stories - he is that kind of guy. And he does it well. But he is way too headstrong, opinionated and bull headed to convey a sense of consistent cricketing enjoyment to the listener. Among the Australians he is also one who speaks slowly in measured tones - almost as if to make sure that people having a hard time with his accent do understand what he has to say. That is a good touch. I dont know whether that is something he trained himself to do or whether that is natural.

[thevortex]

SJS - About Atul Wassan, the bravado and frank speech, I figure it goes with the territory. Aakhir voh to Dilli-walla hai :)

[Precambrian]

Harsha would do well to limit himself to doing anchoring pre match talk shows, unless he gives up his mock laugh, cliches, and condescending tone in the box. Like his writing though.

[Nova]

I have come to the conclusion that T20 tournaments don't deserve any elite commentators. Keep them for test cricket where in depth analysis is of prime importance. Can't wait for test cricket...it makes me happy.