Former Test wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist to be face of Fox Sports’ cricket coverage
FOX Sports have landed the first prized coup in cricket’s commentary wars, signing Adam Gilchrist to become the face of the game.
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FOX Sports have landed the first prized coup in cricket’s commentary wars, signing Adam Gilchrist to become the face of the game.
Gilchrist will lead Fox Cricket’s ground-breaking wall-to-wall coverage of the summer and is the ideal man to build a commentary team around.
In a News Corp poll conducted after Foxtel secured cricket’s television rights earlier this month, Gilchrist received an overwhelming 94 per cent endorsement as the commentator fans most wanted to see snapped up to become the sound of summer on their screens.
Gilchrist’s stellar Test career, likeable personality and expert eye for the game made him stand-out as the conspicuous target for not only Fox but for cricket’s new free-to-air broadcaster Channel Seven, sparking an intense tussle for his signature.
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However, Fox has won the key battle with a clear plan for Gilchrist to work across all international cricket and the Big Bash.
When Kerry Packer launched World Series Cricket, and for the near four decades to follow, Richie Benaud’s iconic voice became synonymous with everything cricket stood for.
Fox Sports are preparing to spearhead a new cricketing revolution, and see Gilchrist – with his revered reputation in the game and ability inspire a team and cultivate an intimate atmosphere in the commentary box – as the perfect front man.
“Gilly is one of the most loved cricketers of all time. He will lead the Fox Cricket coverage working across all three forms of the game,” said Fox Sports chief executive, Patrick Delany.
“Fans love his opinion and analysis, the way he combines pure class and humour.
“In the same way he set a new standard for what a wicket-keeper-batsman did in today’s game, Gilly will be the perfect person to front the most innovate cricket coverage on TV.
“We are building a formidable team and the only place to watch is on Foxtel.”
Gilchrist was the key cog in Channel Ten’s successful Big Bash League coverage and it’s understood helped represent the network at stages during the TV rights negotiations.
The mastermind behind Ten’s BBL coverage, David Barham, has been poached by new free-to-air broadcasters Seven as their head of cricket, and he shares a close relationship with Gilchrist.
But Gilchrist, 46, said he was attracted by Fox Sports becoming the new home of cricket and inspired to join a team completely immersing itself in the game he’s loved since he was a boy.
“Sport has been a major part of my life, as a player and now a commentator, so to join a network that is 100 per cent focused on sport is something I am extremely excited about,” said Gilchrist.
“Fox Sports’ new partnership with cricket has seen a big commitment to the game – a game that I clearly love – and I can’t wait to be part of the family.
“It’s a changed landscape for cricket coverage in this country, where viewers have more choice and more variety than ever – and this will be great for the game.”
Fox Sports will effectively kick-start their landmark coverage for the next six years when Australia take on Pakistan in Test and one-day matches in the UAE in October.
During the summer, Fox will show every ball of men’s international action as well as 23 live women’s Big Bash League games.