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| Tuesday, 11 January 2005 |
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Biased English commentators by Elmo Rodrigopulle If you want to listen to a commentary that is blatantly biased, then switch on to Star Sports and listen to the English commentators Ian Botham, David Lloyd, Nasser Hussain and Bob Willis doing their thing, describing the England - South Africa series in SA. Having been top class willow wielders, it is sickening to listen to these men, who from the time they get behind the mike sing praises and hosannas to their men on the field. Also it is unacceptable that there is a full team of four England commentators, South Africa the home team, who should have more men on the panel, have only two. Star Sports would do well to explain this disparity. For bias read on. These incidents took place during the third test at Newlands, Graeme Smith the South African captain, when he was batting apparently mistimed a pull and lobbed the ball which was held by wicket keeper Geraint Jones. A deafening appeal went up and umpire Darrel Harper did not rule in favour of the bowler. Former England captain Hussain who was on at that time, blasted the International Cricket Council for changing umpires after two games, instead of stcking to them. Wills who was partnering Hussain, rubbed salt to the wounds by saying that if Harper could not give that out, then he was not fit to stand at this level. Willis' outburst came after having the benefit of replays, where apparently Smith had hit the ball. Then in the South African second innings, Vaughan went on the defensive after tea placing six men on the off and three on the leg side, after asking Andrew Flintoff to bowl outside off stump. Flintoff was bowling so wide that Jacques Kallis had to move well outside off stump to try and make contact. Lloyd who was doing commentary who apparently had no explaining to do on Vaughan's tactics, once said that Flintoff has bowled six overs for six runs. What he was shy of saying is that nearly 30 of those 36 deliveries were unreachable by the batsmen. Then when Vaughan moved a fielder, Lloyd said; oh what clever field placing. Then when the Englishmen were tumbling to defeat, Graham Thorpe was out LBW to the first ball bowled by off spinner Smith. Hussain who was describing at that time, said he had a sneaky feeling that the ball was missing leg stump. But he had to eat his words when replays showed that the batsman was plumb in front. Botham who was co-commentator did not do a Willis and say that umpire Steve Bucknor should not have been umpiring at this level if he could not give that out. There were many more biased comments. Space does not allow me to give readers much, much more. England who were riding a crest of a wave of success were brought down to earth by the South Africans who beat them in the Third Test to equal the series one-all with two to go. England cricket commentators should listen and learn from the erudite and balanced commentating of Tony Greig, Ian Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Harsha Bhogale and Navjot Singh Sidhu. Jenner to pick leggies for England Terry Jenner, former Australian leg spinner and mentor of the world's leading wicket taker the leg spinning sensation Shane Warne, has been invited by the English Cricket Board to help them unearth leg spinners in the country. Earlier they had former Aussie wicket keeper Rodney Marsh helping them set up an Academy to improve their cricket which was sadly on the skids. England gave the game to the world and it is sad to think that they do not have men who can help their game. |
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