Everyone who cares about South African cricket probably has a worst ‘moment’ from the last couple of years which, for them, symbolises the nadir to which the game’s reputation sank. Unfortunately, there is a good chance it hasn’t bottomed out yet. There was Thabang Moroe’s tenure as CSA chief executive to endure, the refusal of the discredited Members Council to step aside and allow a new era to begin, the ability of president Chris Nenzani to walk away from a series of debacles on his watch without any accountability…
This blows my mind. The radio 2000 ball by ball cricket commentary is an institution, the ECB have been smart enough to snap up Andrew Samson for their tests as the stats on the fly bring so much depth to the listener. What doesn't add up for me, this is probably about budget, right (and the SABC lost theirs in a pothole)? This talk of the series being worth some figure in the hundreds of millions to CSA, surely there's an answer.
I think its ridiculous that a 'sports radio station' fails to broadcast 'ball-by-ball' a test & ODI series between us and the strong Indian national team. Shame on them. Do you know if spectators will be able to attend? Hope to see you at Newlands for the 3rd test.
No more commentary on Radio 2000? I am gutted. As a relative newcomer to the sport I've loved the commentary, with Aslam Kota, Natalie Germanos and you providing hours of memorable and profoundly educated chit chat! Like many others I listened on headphones while attending games at Newlands. I also taught at the Athlone School for the Blind where the students were cricket mad, played blind cricket and could tell you how Ponting went out 5 years previously. Imagine the loss for them! TV commentary is simply not the same.
Good article Neil. Sad to hear about the demise of cricket commentary on the radio. Very sad. Insofar as Smith being at fault in not selecting Thami is concerned I would lay the blame on whoever ill- advisedly told Thami he would succeed Boucher. No team in the world would have selected a good keeper and an average provincial batsman if you had a phenomenal batsman in your team who was at worst the equal of Thami as a keeper. By selecting AB you opened up a space in the team for another quality batsman and allowed the team to operate with 4 seamers and a spinner- and in 2012 beat England in England. Thami’s race was irrelevant in making this decision I would suggest. Terrible to say this but Boucher’s tragic injury was a blessing in disguise for team selection.
This blows my mind. The radio 2000 ball by ball cricket commentary is an institution, the ECB have been smart enough to snap up Andrew Samson for their tests as the stats on the fly bring so much depth to the listener. What doesn't add up for me, this is probably about budget, right (and the SABC lost theirs in a pothole)? This talk of the series being worth some figure in the hundreds of millions to CSA, surely there's an answer.
I think its ridiculous that a 'sports radio station' fails to broadcast 'ball-by-ball' a test & ODI series between us and the strong Indian national team. Shame on them. Do you know if spectators will be able to attend? Hope to see you at Newlands for the 3rd test.
No more commentary on Radio 2000? I am gutted. As a relative newcomer to the sport I've loved the commentary, with Aslam Kota, Natalie Germanos and you providing hours of memorable and profoundly educated chit chat! Like many others I listened on headphones while attending games at Newlands. I also taught at the Athlone School for the Blind where the students were cricket mad, played blind cricket and could tell you how Ponting went out 5 years previously. Imagine the loss for them! TV commentary is simply not the same.
Good article Neil. Sad to hear about the demise of cricket commentary on the radio. Very sad. Insofar as Smith being at fault in not selecting Thami is concerned I would lay the blame on whoever ill- advisedly told Thami he would succeed Boucher. No team in the world would have selected a good keeper and an average provincial batsman if you had a phenomenal batsman in your team who was at worst the equal of Thami as a keeper. By selecting AB you opened up a space in the team for another quality batsman and allowed the team to operate with 4 seamers and a spinner- and in 2012 beat England in England. Thami’s race was irrelevant in making this decision I would suggest. Terrible to say this but Boucher’s tragic injury was a blessing in disguise for team selection.
Hi manners
It is really sad that radio 2000 wont have live cricket commentary anymore.
I use to have my ear phones on to hear the commentary at work and also on the way home from work. You guys will all be surely missed on air.