5 commentators who were made for Twenty20 cricket

Twenty20 cricket, while succeeding at grabbing the attention of the wider world and boosting ICCs plans of globalizing the sport, has indisputably lowered the bars with respect to quality and richness of the game. Be it inside the 22 yards or outside of it, quality has suffered, and in keeping with the trend on field, the emergence of Twenty20 specialists in the commentary box has been striking, to say the least.These are the men who have been entrusted with the job of keeping things fun and simple. A few of them are comical, others loud, but none are analytical. Forget Richie Benaud, Tony Cozier and Ian Bishop, these Twenty20 commentators are paid not for their eloquence, but for their ability to raise your adrenaline levels every now and then.Here we take a look at five such men-with-mics whose approach to commentary lies in harmony with the spirit of the format.

#5 Ian Smith

Ian Smith (right) commentates on rugby as well

During the 1980s, New Zealand regular Ian Smith was a much sought-after man owing to his handsome looks and charming personality. Three decades later, the former wicket-keeper is now an obese man who had recently enrolled in a weight loss homeopathy program and lost 10 kilos.

Smith is a household name for statisticians and cricket quizzers, for he not only holds the highest score by a number nine in Tests but also possesses one of the highest strike-rates (99 runs per hundred balls) in ODIs.

He took to commentary after retirement and currently works as a breakfast host on Radio Live Sport. He is popular as a Sky Sport commentator on cricket as well as rugby. His hilarious reaction inside the box as Jesse Ryder’s massive six landed on top of his car during a domestic match in November 2014 soon went viral on YouTube.

#4 Harsha Bhogle

Harsha Bhogle is one of the best commentators around

Among the many generations of commentators from India, Harsha Bhogle undoubtedly remains the best, in spite of no cricketing career per se. While he may not possess profound technical knowledge or the competence to pick a delivery as it comes out of the bowler’s hand, Bhogle’s easy wit and humble acknowledgement of his shortcomings have helped him climb the ranks so quickly.

Since Twenty20 cricket is as much about entertainment and off-topic anecdotes as cricket, Bhogle’s spontaneity, cultural intellect and intelligent humor offer a refreshing diversion from the mainstream sport. His smart quips and banter with co-commentators like Nasser Hussain are things that every listener looks forward to when he comes on the mic.

#3 Nasser Hussain

Hussain is pretty sharp as a commentator

As an established cricketer during his time, former England skipper Nasser Hussain was famous for his shrewd captaincy that stemmed from a detailed understanding of the game. As a commentator now, he is amazingly sharp as he always ends up making his point while keeping the readers engaged all the time.

Hussain’s uniqueness lies in the manner he disperses crumbs of sarcasm while taking care not to hurt sentiments. His keen insight is evident from his light-but-observant remarks that draw the attention of the common audience and pundits alike – an ability that is perfectly in sync with the essence of Twenty20 cricket.

#2 David Lloyd

“Twenty20 is hardly more than a form of entertainment using cricket equipment”

Nicknamed ‘Bumble’ by John Sullivan because his face bore similarity to the characters on Michael Bentine’s show, the Bumblies, David Lloyd is a maverick on his own. He has been a cricketer, coach, umpire, commentator as well as an author, and at 68, he continues to be as amusing as ever.

He has been particularly known as the voice of the shortest format of the game ever since its launch in 2003, although in his own words, Twenty20 is hardly more than “a form of entertainment using cricket equipment”.

The Lancastrian’s excitable style and several antics during both presentation and commentary have made him immensely popular over the years. Some of his side-splitting moments can be found here.

#1 Danny Morrison

Danny Morrison has his unique style of commentary

There are good commentators; there are bad commentators; then there is Danny Morrison. From being absurd to the extent of being amusing, the former Kiwi cricketer offers entertainment on a whole new level. IPL presenter Karishma Kotak has first-hand experiences of his eccentricity.

Morrison is neither articulate nor erudite, but he is an entertainer all the same, which is why he has flourished more in limited overs format commentary than anywhere else. Outgoing and loud, his exuberance is disliked by purists and quite justifiably adored by the younger generation of cricket viewers. All will remain well unless he ends up indulging in Sidhuism in the near future.