Aussie TV royalty slams Channel 9 commentary selection for Olympics

There was a surprise voice calling the action in Paris on day one of the Olympics — and an Aussie TV veteran called it “disrespectful to the athletes”.

Channel 9's decision to have Mark Taylor commentate the diving was slammed. Pictures: Getty

Australia television veteran Tim Bailey has slammed the decision to have cricket legend Mark Taylor commentate the diving competition at the Paris Olympics.

Aussie viewers were surprised to hear the voice of the former Test captain when they tuned in to watch Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith compete in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard final on Saturday night.

Bailey, who worked for decades at Channel 10, described the selection as “disrespectful to the athletes” and called for the decision-maker to be sacked.

“Mark Taylor calling the diving. A wonderful cricketer. But a little disrespectful to the athletes,” Bailey tweeted.

“Tubby probably knows nothing about this sport. He’s admitted as much. The (executive producer) who made this decision? Your last.”

This must have been the photo Mark Taylor (right) chose on his application form for commentating the diving.

Bailey wasn’t the only one voicing his surprise.

“Seriously Channel9… Tubby Taylor commentating diving? Has he been on a springboard? Like, ever?” one bemused viewer tweeted.

“Mark Taylor commentating on the diving sounds like a 12th Man bit,” AAP sports reporter Oliver Caffrey wrote.

“Tubby Taylor calling the diving at the Olympics wasn’t on my bingo card this year,” tweeted another.

“Mark Taylor doing the #diving is peak Channel 9,” wrote a fourth.

A fifth added: “Tubby Taylor commentating the diving. Totally normal.”

Taylor is deservedly a beloved figure in Australian sport and had many willing to cut him some slack.

“Mark Taylor calling the #diving on Nine. What a time to be alive! The art of perfect entry called like the art of a perfect cover drive,” wrote one.

“He’s doing a reasonable job, but does anyone else find it completely discombobulating listening to Tubby Taylor commentate the @Olympics diving?” wrote another.

Tim Bailey wasn’t happy. Picture: Channel 10

We’re used to hearing Mark Taylor on the cricket broadcast. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

There was no shortage of drama for Taylor to work with either.

In one agonising split-second, Smith and Keeney went from medal delight to disaster as Australia’s dynamic duo were left to lament a shocking final dive to watch their medal hopes sink.

Smith and Keeney won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the pair needed just a solid final dive to clinch another bronze, and possibly silver, to deliver Australia’s first medal of the Paris Games.

But with a podium finish in sight, the pair’s final dive - a forward two-and-a-half somersault with a twist - was one of the worst of the entire program as Smith and Keeney hit the water well out of sync.

“This is a disaster … the Aussies are distraught,” a British commentator said. “They know this has cost them a medal.”

Australia's Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith were in sync early in the competition. (Photo by Sebastien Bozon/AFP)

The heartbreaking finale saw the duo plunge from third to fifth, gifting shocked British pair Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen bronze as a shattered Smith was consoled by the Australian coaching team.

Smith, competing at her fourth Olympics, rued her poor takeoff which saw the Melbourne veteran veer sideways as the Centre Aquatique crowd gasped in disbelief.

“It’s pretty brutal … I screamed underwater,” the 31-year-old said.

“I was hoping the cameras weren’t on me on the underwater cam.

“I don’t know what happened. That’s diving. We are trying to control our bodies and spin lots of times on a very bouncy, uneven plank.

“I just had a bad hurdle and landed on the side of the board which affects the rest of the dive.

“I was on the side of the board and was pretty low, I didn’t do a very good dive. I still completed it and didn’t get zeros, but it wasn’t very good.

“It’s just very disappointing. There’s not much more I can say.”

Anabelle Smith (right) fluffed the final dive. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Smith (left) screamed under water. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

There was also a left-field choice to feature in the equestrian broadcast.

AFL great Matthew Pavlich must have undergone a crash course in the finer points of dressage as he called the action.

“A superstar footy player, but not sure Pavlich is across the details of equestrian based on that interview,” one viewer tweeted.

What’s next - Billy Brownless at the freestyle BMX and Fatty Vautin at the beach volleyball?

- with News Corp Australia