Stump-mics to be cranked up leaving nowhere to hide for Australian cricketers
AUSTRALIAN audiences are unlikely to hear a repeat of Michael Clarke’s infamous “get ready for a “broken f***ing arm” sledge, with on-field banter to be broadcast unfiltered into lounge rooms across the country.
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THERE will be nowhere to hide for the Australian cricket team this summer, with on-field banter to be broadcast unfiltered into lounge rooms across the country.
In a major win for viewers, new TV rights holders Fox Sports have declared they will be cranking up the stump mics in their Test and limited overs coverage, and importantly, they have secured the players’ support to do so.
Australia famously requested South Africa turn down their stump audio earlier this year in anticipation of the sledging barrage to follow, and when the locals refused, players started plugging rival sponsors in a bid to sabotage the coverage.
The International Cricket Council has since removed all restrictions on stump mics and left their use up to the discretion of broadcasters, much to the annoyance of Australian spinner Nathan Lyon who voiced his disapproval at players getting pinched for bad language.
Curiously, Seven have taken a similar view to Lyon and flagged they will ‘look after’ players this summer. The free-to-air network’s head of cricket David Barham is of the view that blasting the stump mics is akin to ‘exploiting’ the players’ workplace.
Seven will control the mics for 43 Big Bash League matches, but their stance isn’t relevant for Test cricket given they’ll be in ad-breaks in-between overs and Fox will control the feed.
Fox Sports bosses have been working behind the scenes with the Australian Cricketers Association to convince players to buy into the theory that entertaining viewers should be the No. 1 priority.
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Cricket’s public image is at a low point following the ball-tampering scandal, and there appears to be a consensus that the game needs to open up and show its human side.
Drama will be at a premium this summer, with cricket’s No. 1 antagonist Virat Kohli ready to thrive on Australia’s predicament.
Fox are determined to make audiences feel like they’re standing in the middle.
“We’re not going to let an opportunity go by that might make this game more appealing to more people,” said Fox Sports chief, Steve Crawley.
“When we heard the ICC had done this with the stump mics there was celebrating. Because, good on them, good on the players, good on everyone.
“We’re in the entertainment business. If the players are comfortable with it, if Cricket Australia are comfortable with it — full steam ahead. We won’t be pulling back.”
Executive Producer at Fox Brad McNamara says both Cricket Australia and the ACA have pledged to work closely to ensure fans “don’t lose”.
Fox Sports believes the atmosphere and intensity created by the stump-mics shapes as one of their great points of difference from Seven, who will head to commercials in between overs when players converge at the centre of the wicket.
“When they’re up at the end of an over, Seven will be in a break so we won’t be,” said Crawley.
“There will be atmosphere out there and conversations going on out there.”
Perhaps the most famous piece of theatre provided by the stump mic in recent years was former Australian captain Michael Clarke telling England foe James Anderson to get ready for a “broken f***ing arm” as tensions frayed during the 2013-14 Ashes.
Audiences thrived on the moment of passion, but Clarke was fined for his outburst.
Cricketers were frustrated at the level of fines in last year’s Big Bash League for perceived minor breaches of the code and there is hope administrators will understand the give-and-take of having mics turned up in heat-of-the-moment battles.
The Australian team have long stressed that they don’t cross “the line” in their on-field banter, and if that’s the case they should have nothing to fear.
“We’re not there to catch out the players, we’re there to enhance the experience for the viewers,” said Crawley.
FAMOUS STUMP MIC MOMENTS
- “Get ready for a broken f***ing arm”: Michael Clarke to James Anderson, Ashes 2013-14
- “He can’t bowl, and he can’t throw”: Joe the Cameraman about Australian quick, Scott Muller.
- “Come on Bing — one for the boys at Travelex now. Plenty of energy from a Milo Energy Bar. Keep it well-oiled with Castrol boys. Come on.”: Adam Gilchrist trying to get the mics turned down in Bangladesh, 2006
- “Shove that up ya, Chappelli”: Former Queensland first-class player Peter Cantrell scores a ton and gets his revenge for some criticism from Ian Chappell in the commentary box.
- “Lots of pressure here for the skipper. He’s going to let his whole country down now if he fails. Lots of expectations, fellas. The weight of all these expectations, fellas. The weight of the country, chaps. Forty-two million supporters right here, depending on Shaun”: Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara reminds South African captain Shaun Pollock of the pressure on the Proteas to win the 2003 World Cup.
- “You don’t deserve to play anywhere but here because you’re useless”: Steve Smith gives Ravi Jadeja some frank feedback on last year’s tour of India.
- “Bowled, Shane”: Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist’s iconic encouragement to Shane Warne.
- “Niiice, Gary”: Matt Wade’s catch cry up to the stumps to Nathan Lyon.
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