(The above piece is written by my own views, as a player, Commentator as well as Lover of the game, I will bring new topics and discuss various issues which. Requires a point of view or to be seen with different perspective in order to bridge the gap, just a Point of view, to see things differently)
India being a Cricket Crazy Nation is known worldwide, the game binds the country together, which is another phenomenon part of this game , therefore, Cricket Commentary becomes an important aspect of this so favourite game for Indians, A Commentator is the main link between the Fan, Viewer, listener to provide them the Dialogues in an interesting movie on Screen.
As a matter of fact Test cricket commentary originated in Australia. The first ever recorded broadcast had started in Sydney for the first time in the year1922,
This commentary was done for a testimonial game to celebrate the career of Charles Bannerman, Test cricket’s first centurion. Unfortunately there are no recorded evidence existing for the same , even the broadcast not available for the Fans or Cricket Lovers across the globe, similarly in India Cricket Commentary has been a most favourite subject for Cricket Crazy Fans, in 80’s 90’s Cricket Commentary was done by many Legendary Commentators, who were known for their innovative word play with mike during matches, their skill of playing with words, when, Legendary players were playing Cricket in the ground, this was a deadly combo for a cricket fan, who get glued to their Radio or television sets to get this great recipe of Cricket with commentary together, those days International Cricketers were to provide special comments, in between commentary, like a chef guides the cook to get the best dishes by adding their expertise to get the best culinary experience for food lovers,
Cricket commentary has been a very respectable profession all through the years,
Specially in the era of 80’s &90’s Main Cricket Commentary was being performed by the Professional Commentators, be it test Cricket or One Dayers, Cricket players were taken as Experts for their Expert Comments on the game or situation etc,
Commentator those days were creating magic through their words, wit and clubbed with knowledge and power of the game, they were virtually eyes for TV viewers and Ears for Radio Listeners, which made the entire game look so grand, with their Jumlas and special comments, in between, the game and providing special moments with their special touch through their commentary skills.
This game started changing during late 80’s when International Cricketers took Cricket Commentary as their. Profession, towards playing their second innings after. Their retirement in the Comm Boxes, this gave stars to the game, but at. The same, quality and essence of commentary lost it charm, which is the same problem even till date.
Let me take you down to memory lane & just draw your attention towards some of the Great Legendary commentators in 70’s and 80’s, who were only commentators, who had not played cricket on Professional level ever in their life,
But. They were so good at their craft that, gave a viewer or listener to get glued to the game with their commentary, just to name a few most popular names of that era were : in English Dr. Narottam Puri, famous Indian journalist ,Commentator immensely talented &respected by all the players, Arsh Lal, Anupam Gulati, in etc, these were names on top of English Commentary for the game, well as far as hindi is concerned , top names were Sushil Doshi , Ravi Chaturvedi ( Father of Abhinav Chaturvedi- Ham Log Fame Nanhe character, which became very popular in 80’s), Murali Manohar Manjul, Jasdev Singh, were the leading Names, who were known for their Cricket Commentary Skills worldwide. As time changes overall look and feel changes for the commentary to great degree.
Well in the era of 80’s somehow Specialised commentators were taken over by Ex Cricketers, this trend was started by ,largely by two legends Sunil Gavaskar Sahib who hasbeenan institution of Cricket, in other words a bible of Cricket, when he comments on the game leading players of the world listens to it, he is one Legend Cricketer of India as well as Master cricket commentator, who does not have any substitute till date.
Ravi Shastri, Another flamboyant Cricket & great Commentator Ravi Shastri with his authoritative Voice & high decibels on bass, which made his voice so commanding & treat to ears alongwith his great cricket knowledge by pin pointing the correct problems or issues during the matches, which gave lot of knowledge and entertainment for a viewer in order to learn the various techniques and knowledge. Of the game as a fan or viewer,
This combination made him one of the Finest Cricket Commentator of the World, till date, we miss his voice, all real commentary lovers miss him so much in the Comm Box Specially the Female fans too. He is a Star Commentator of India apart from being a Finest player of his time.
Even Sanjay Manjrekar, Arun Lal, Lalchand Rajput, who had been phenomenon with their Cricketing words and vocab on the game alongside knowledge and Special Punches, while they were in the comm boxes be it for tests or One dayers.
Then further innovations happened in commentary as well in Cricket, another breed of commentators like great Navjot Singh Sidhu who introduced sheroshyari alongwith Cricket, with fixing perfect Sher for the correct moment,makes it more Soothing to the ears, Akash Choprawith adding local Cricket lingo on day to day basis commonly used local cricket words as part of his commentary made him another popular commentator specially in Hindi, another Example of a good Hindi & English Commentary.
Emergence of IPL with T-20 Cricket becoming buzz word amongst cricket community amongst Viewers in the 2000 era, Except Harsha Bhogle , who is only commentator non Cricket background some of other non Cricket Commentary Examples are JaitnSapru, Raman Bhanot etc .,
are the Anchors, Sports Presenters also tried their hands on Cricket commentary and they are much better then some on International Cricketers, who are doing commentary these days on various TV Channels, but unfortunate part they have never been able create that impact in the eyes and ears of the listeners or viewers of yesteryear’s commentators who made this art so Special with their Craft is so Special.
These Days only Ex Players are there in the Comm boxes, which is really sometimes takes the entire essence of commentary has changed a great degree, somewhere down the line, I feel Specialised jobs to be given to Specialised people for which they have the Skill, today’s Commentary more of talks of two Cricketers rather then interesting commentary of the Game,
I feel Broadcasters should look at this aspect of the game, I am sure players have name, also Ex players also wanting to be close to the game, wherever possible, but it takes the overall Essence of the Art which has been dying on day to day basis.
This is just a point of view, as sometimes a Good anchor steal the show, which is not been seen in Cricket, these Days Cricket Commentary has been so stereo typed, as Production teams gives you like script, Commentary is an art of spontaneity, which can create the essence and purity, which has been a big miss for the listeners and Viewers.
I feel the way Cricket has been on the Top, alas the Commentary has been degraded over the years for a simple fact, like a commentator cannot do coaching without playing or having knowledge of the game similarly each Cricketer cannot be a good Commentator ( barring few who have good diction and command over the language be it Hindi or English like Sunil Gavaskar Sahib, Ravi Shastri, Sanjay Manjrekar, Navjot Sidhu etc, these are some of Finest Players of their times and Excellent commentators of today even , as they know the art of Cricket as well finding the moments of entertainment within the Cricketing moments, while doing commentary too.
I still Feel, we are Nation with a Population of 138 Crore plus, with tons of talent and madness over the game of Cricket, I am sure ,we have amazing Commentary talent in the nation, due to not much availability of assignments good talent in commentary is not seeing the light of the day, my Appeal to broadcasters , let us reinvent the wheel to get the golden Commentary ear back again,
I am very confident, that, TRP’s will be better on the game, when you have a good commentator too, just a point of View.