Cricket commentators XI

Gavaskar has been around as a commentator for more than 2 decades

Commentary has always been one of the most important aspects of sports broadcasting over the years. The game of cricket is no exception to this and has seen some really fine commentators from different countries who have enthralled TV and radio audiences from time to time with their voice.

Also Read: Five cricket commentators and their favourite phrases

A high percentage of the commentators who have been covering the sport are former cricketers, many of them being legends. Taking this into account, we have tried to come up with a Commentators XI which includes some of the most popular cricketers-turned-commentators in world cricket.

Here’s a look at the team we have picked


#1 Sunil Gavaskar

Opening the batting for our commentators XI is Indian batting legend, Sunil Gavaskar. The iconic cricketer from Mumbai was the first man to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket and also held the record for the most centuries in the format (34) until his fellow countryman Sachin Tendulkar went past him in 2005.

Post retirement, Gavaskar has earned the reputation of being among India’s most popular cricket commentators. Over the years, the ‘Little Master’ has covered numerous tournaments involving Team India as part of the BCCI’s commentary team, while also being a regular in the Indian Premier League.

#2 Mark Taylor (captain)

One of Australia’s finest captains, Mark Taylor is also renowned for his commentary

Joining Gavaskar at the top of the order is former Australian opening batsman and skipper, Mark Taylor, who will also be captain of the team. The prolific southpaw scored more than 7000 runs in his career, which included a top score of 334 not out, and also won 26 out of his 50 Tests as Australia’s captain.

After Taylor called it a day from all forms of cricket, he entered the commentary arena with Australia’s popular Channel Nine network and has been with them ever since. While he is certainly not among the most well-travelled commentators in the game, Mark Taylor has managed to carve his own niche in the world of cricket broadcasting.

#3 Geoffrey Boycott

Geoffrey Boycott is among the most popular commentators in the game

Occupying the pivotal No. 3 position in our batting order is none other than Geoffrey Boycott. The Yorkshireman is widely considered as one of the most technically sound batsmen of all time and scored more than 8000 Test runs in the 108 Tests that he played for England.

Also Read: Test match batting, the Geoffrey Boycott way

Boycott has also been a renowned commentator and has gained immense popularity due to his straightforward approach. Although the 76-year old is not heard much in the commentary box these days, he does make brief appearances every now and then to express his views on the game.

#4 Mike Atherton

Atherton has been associated with cricket commentary for a long time

During his playing days, former England cricketer Mike Atherton was perhaps the grittiest batsman one could come across. The right-hander is remembered most for some of the fighting knocks that he played in his career, particularly his 643-minute epic against South Africa in 1995 to save a Test at Johannesburg.

After he quit the game, Atherton took sports coverage as a full-time profession and has carried out the roles of a journalist and a commentator with great efficiency ever since. The 48-year old is popular because of his unbiased approach and witty sense of humour while commentating on cricket.

#5 Ian Chappell

Ian Chappell is known for his direct approach even while commentating

Lending solidity to the middle-order at No. 5 is former Australian batsman and skipper Ian Chappell. The Adelaide-born cricketer may not have been the most attractive of batsmen but certainly was an effective one, scoring over 5000 Test runs at a 40-plus average with 14 centuries to his name.

Chappell took up a career as a commentator after his retirement and has been doing a fine job at it till date. What stands out about the Aussie great’s commentary is the fact that he is very direct in terms of his approach, irrespective of whether he is praising or criticising a particular player or team.

#6 Tony Greig

Tony Greig was one of cricket commentary’s biggest icons

While most people of the current generation know Tony Greig as a great commentator, he also used to be a fine all-rounder for England during his playing days and he makes it to our team at No. 6. In a Test career which saw him play 58 matches, the lanky cricketer scored over 3500 runs and also claimed 141 wickets for his country.

In terms of commentary, Greig will always be remembered as one of the best to have ever covered the game. He had the ability to add a touch of excitement to the dullest of moments on the cricket field and this is precisely why television viewers enjoyed listening to him so much.

#7 Ian Botham

The legendary all-rounder is also a well-known commentator

Ian Botham is arguably the greatest all-round cricketer to have played the game and is one of English cricket’s biggest heroes. With 383 wickets, Botham was his country’s leading wicket-taker until James Anderson surpassed him last year and to add to it, he also scored more than 5000 runs with 14 centuries.

Once his glittering career came to an end, ‘Beefy’ entered the world of cricket commentary and has been doing quite a remarkable job ever since. As a commentator, Ian Botham has covered numerous Tests and limited-overs matches involving England and many major cricketing events as well.

#8 Ian Smith (wicket-keeper)

Ian Smith (right) is the most popular commentator from New Zealand

Former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith fights off some stiff competition to take the wicket-keeper’s slot in our commentators XI. In his playing days, Smith used to be a skilful customer behind the stumps and also a handy lower-order batsman with a tally of around 2000 runs in 88 Test innings.

After drawing the curtains on his cricketing career, Ian Smith ventured into commentary and has managed to establish his own identity in the trade. Moreover, the 59-year old has not just restricted himself to cricket but also covers rugby union back in his home country.

#9 Richie Benaud

Richie Benaud was a commentator par excellence

Before becoming an icon in the world of cricket broadcasting, Richie Benaud was a world-class leg-spinner who picked plenty of wickets for Australia. Benaud claimed 248 scalps in 63 Tests with as many as 15 five-wicket hauls and also contributed more than 2000 runs with the bat thereby establishing himself as an all-rounder.

Soon after his retirement in 1964, Richie took over cricket journalism and commentary as a full-time profession. Over the years, Richie Benaud went on carve his own legacy as a cricket commentator and became a name synonymous with cricket coverage in Australia, particularly the Channel Nine network.

#10 Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram made quite a successful transition to commentary post retirement

Legendary Pakistani paceman Wasim Akram is a name that needs no introduction for any cricket fan. Akram is easily one of the greatest cricketers to have represented his country and picked up more than 900 wickets in his international career while also scoring close to 7000 runs across Tests and ODIs.

It did not take the iconic bowler much time to break into the world of cricket commentary post his retirement. Although he has had commentary stints with many different networks, Wasim Akram has primarily been associated with the Star Sports network in India and Pakistan’s ARY Digital.

#11 Michael Holding

Holding’s baritone voice has earned him a lot of popularity as a commentator

Former West Indian cricketer Michael Holding is considered to be one of the fastest and most dangerous bowlers of all time. Nicknamed ‘Whispering Death’ by the umpires of his time, Holding had a highly successful career with the ball as he claimed 249 wickets in just 60 Tests with 13 five-wicket hauls.

Not too long after saying goodbye to competitive cricket, the towering cricketer found his feet in the commentary box. Since then, Michael Holding has added a dimension of his own to his current profession with his baritone voice and Jamaican accent and has been a regular face in England’s Sky Sports commentary team.

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Edited by Staff Editor