Cricket deal is just the change we need

THE Seven/Foxtel cricket deal will end the pale, stale, male cricket commentary line-up that Channel Nine has been bowling up for too long, writes Megan Hustwaite.

HOWZAT!

Channel 9’s pale, male, stale reign of the cricket commentary box is over with Channel 7 and Foxtel teaming up for a partnership opening batsmen would envy to secure the television rights in a deal worth more than $1.08 billion over six years.

This is a game changer. This isn’t just one of the biggest sports broadcasting deals in Australian television history but an opportunity for Australian TV cricket commentary to be dragged into the 2000s. Finally.

Channel 9 was the home and sound of cricket for 40 years — the likes of Richie Benaud, Tony Greig and Bill Lawry provided the soundtrack of our summers — but in recent years the commentary box hasn’t evolved with life or sport.

When the network launched its summer of cricket last year its promo shot of its star-studded commentary team sparked a social media storm and opinion pieces. No new voices, no women. Yes, there were legends of the game, former Aussie captains and larrikins but for too long the call team has been nothing but a mates’ club. If you were a cricket great and had a nickname to boot, then come in spinner! Didn’t matter if you were boring and lacking insights. If you’re one of the boys then take a seat in front of the mic and settle in for the foreseeable future!

Nine’s commentary team has long been a boy’s club, but in-jokes and discussions about pizza toppings just don’t cut it any more. (Pic: Jonathan Ng)

In 40 years just two women were part of the Channel 9 commentary team. Actor Kate Fitzpatrick joined the team in 1983 but that was nothing short of a gimmick. More than 20 years later, seasoned host and journalist Stephanie Brantz debuted but was relegated down the order to do puff pieces with queen WAG of the time Lara Bingle and crosses with face-painted, wig-wearing supporters in the crowd. Spare me.

Last summer, as the Aussies beat England 4-0 in the Ashes, the best female cricket commentators in the world converged Down Under to call the action. Not one of them did so on Channel 9’s telecast. Pom Alison Mitchell — widely regarded as one of the best commentators in the world — fronted the UK’s BT Sport’s commentary team. Four years earlier in Australia she had became the first woman to call ball-by-ball action on ABC radio.

With her classy, concise call of the play and wealth of knowledge, she received more praise than Alastair Cook’s double ton on Boxing Day.

Even blokey FM station, Triple M had two women on their coverage. English commentator and 2009 World Cup champion Isa Guha, whose skill and charm was a big hit with listeners, and respected Fox Sports reporter Neroli Meadows.

Meanwhile on the Nine Network, Tubby, Slats, Heals and co teased each other, rolled out self-indulgent yarns from their glory days and wait for it…. debated the best pizza toppings. A session of listening to former Australian captain Michael Clarke had many wishing he never retired.

English champion Isa Guha was a big hit with Triple M listeners during the Ashes (Pic: Peter Wallis)

Cricket commentator Alison Mitchell is regarded as one of the finest in the world.

There were women on Nine. But blink and you’d miss them.

Former Australian cricketers, and excellent callers in their own right, Mel Jones and Lisa Sthalekar regularly appeared during the lunch break. Both hosted and called on Network Ten’s BBL and WBBL coverage and travel the world year-round as commentary guns for hire but on Nine were used merely for answering questions submitted via Facebook during the borefest lunchtime show.

Channel 10’s innovative approach helped create the roaring success that is BBL and from day dot had a woman anchor the coverage — Mel McLaughlin then Roz Kelly — and former and current players and journalists in the commentary box and on the boundary.

Channel 7 and Foxtel are leaders in Australian sports broadcasting, across all elements of television, but take a glimpse at their call teams across Olympics and Commonwealth Games, AFL, NRL, horse racing and magazine style programs and you will see and hear a diverse range of faces and voices, gender and age plus experts, presenters and reporters who have been selected based on runs on the board but also for their passion and personality. Not just because they captained their country or are one of the boys.

I have no doubt Channel 7, who will show all Test matches on Australian soil, are out to snare the big commentary scalp in Mitchell — former players, media and fans are calling for just that on social media today.

Her voice and those of a new wave of men and women will reinvigorate how we watch, listen and experience cricket.

Bring on a new soundtrack of summer.