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Cricket’s greatest commentators since 2000 as voted by CODE Sports readers

Cricket fans have delivered their verdict on the voices that define summer, ranking 25 legendary commentators with some surprising results that will spark fierce debate.

9 min read
December 1, 2025 - 12:00PM
News Sport Network

If there’s a sport that inspires as much talk as cricket, CODE Sports thinks it might be played in a galaxy far, far away.

Chatter and natter and banter are the lifeblood of the national game.

Spend any amount of time in the stands or cock an ear in the lounge room when the cricket is on and you’ll know it’s true.

This goes a long way to explaining how deeply we feel about the men and women who narrate and debate our summers on the TV and radio.

Code Sports reveals the top 25 cricket commentators since 2000, as voted by our readers.
Code Sports reveals the top 25 cricket commentators since 2000, as voted by our readers.

CODE Sports fans were given the challenge of picking their captain’s XI of cricket’s top broadcasters of the past 25 years.

It was a wide field filled with famous names, and now we have your best of the best – from 1 to 25 in the 2000s.

Every fan will have something to say about the 25 – after all, it is cricket.

BEST 25 COMMENTATORS OF THE PAST 25 YEARS — AS VOTED BY YOU

1. RICHIE BENAUD

Commentator, 9 Network, BBC

Inarguably the most iconic voice in cricket commentary. Benaud combined his dry wit with a knack for letting the game tell the story and forged a legacy as an all-time commentary great. His call of Shane Warne’s ball of the century that knocked over Mike Gatting stands out among a host of iconic moments, so too does his blistering criticism of Trevor Chappell’s infamous underarm ball in 1981.

And how many times have you said “2 for 222” on a “marvellous” day at the cricket?

COMMENTARY GOLD:

• “Gatting has absolutely no idea what has happened to it … he still doesn’t know!” (Shane Warne’s Ball of the Century)

• “And Glenn McGrath dismissed for two, just 98 runs short of his century.”

• After a streaker: “There was a slight interruption there for athletics.”

2. KERRY O’KEEFFE

Commentator, Fox Cricket and ABC

While Kerry O’Keeffe plays on gags and giggles, his technical insights and game feel are undeniably first-class.

Famous for his iconic laugh, O’Keeffe deserves his place among the very best on comedic value alone. O’Keeffe’s commentary injects life into the game where others could not.

3. BILL LAWRY

Commentator, Channel 9

Lawry turned a successful stint on the field into more than 45 years behind the glass. His unbridled enthusiasm for the game sets him apart. Lawry called every game as equal, regardless of the combatants on field. His distinctive voice will always be remembered as one of the best in TV, and was further immortalised by Billy Birmingham in ‘The Twelfth Man.’ The only thing he loved more than commentating was his beloved pigeons.

COMMENTARY GOLD:

• “It’s all happening!”

• “Got him, yes!”

4. SHANE WARNE

Commentator, Channel 9, Fox Cricket, Sky Sports

Warnie and his unmatched charisma brought life and colour to any commentary team, engaging audiences across the world. Warne described the mental battle between bowler and batsman better than anyone else. His candid, unfiltered style was laid bare when mic’d up during Big Bash matches, particularly when he perfectly predicted his dismissal of Brendon McCullum live on air.

COMMENTARY GOLD:

• “Part of the art of bowling spin is to make the batsman think something special is happening when it isn’t.”

5. RICKY PONTING

Commentator, Channel 7

One of Australia’s greatest ever on the field, Ponting has also proved a master off it. On more than one occasion, Punter’s predictive analysis has announced the arrival of a wicket, shot type, or other event. Time and again, he displays his extraordinary depth of knowledge and mastery of the mental game.

COMMENTARY GOLD:

• “Starc will try and swing one back through the gate”

• “A very distinct change of tactics now for Cam Green – they’ll get a lot fuller and a lot straighter, they’ll target his stumps.”

6. ISA GUHA

Commentator, Fox, BBC, Sky Sports

The former England bowler rose quickly to commentary stardom. Guha has done some of her best work in Australia, including covering the Big Bash League and being a member of the inaugural Triple M test commentary team in 2016. Guha is never far from a laugh either, having countless hilarious moments with her colleagues across all formats of the game.

7. TONY GREIG

Commentator, Channel 9

The England all-rounder’s decision to move to Australia post-career proved a delight for broadcasters and fans. Greig delivered a straight shooting and humorous voice for decades. Famous for his creative approach to pitch reviews, Greig transported fans away from wherever they tuned in and onto the field. He was an unapologetic provocateur.

COMMENTARY GOLD:

• Oh boy!

8. ADAM GILCHRIST

Commentator, Fox

Gilchrist’s commentary career took off in 2013 during the inaugural year of the Big Bash League. He’s has been dubbed the “captain” of the star-studded Fox commentary team and perfectly matched the energy of Mitchell Starc’s first ball dismissal of Rory Burns in the 2019 Ashes series, and brings that energy to every game he calls.

9. JIM MAXWELL

Commentator, ABC

Maxwell’s days watching on in the stands of the SCG in his youth translated seamlessly into his commentary career. Several World Cups and hundreds of Test matches across more than half a century earnt him the moniker of ‘the voice of summer.’ By bringing a uniquely Australian, laconic style to his calls, Maxwell is deservedly revered as a commentary great and was the soundtrack to many an Aussie road trip.

10. HARSHA BHOGLE

Commentator, Fox Cricket and ABC

The Indian commentator is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable voices in cricket. He even had a TV show named after him in India, the name of which translates to Harsha’s Search. The aim was to find the next big thing in Indian broadcasting. He has featured on Fox Cricket and ABC during recent Indian series in Australia and is widely respected for his ability to mix measured and calm commentary with strong analysis and sharp takes.

11. MICHAEL HOLDING

Commentator, Sky Sports

A West Indies legend on the field and behind the glass. Holding’s commentary style was as swift, calm and direct as his iconic bowling technique. He frequently and fearlessly addresses major cricketing issues, most strikingly with his moving recount of his experience with racism as a young athlete. Never afraid to speak his mind, ‘Whispering Death’ carried his smooth but direct playing style over to his commentary.

12. IAN SMITH

Commentator, Fox Cricket

The former New Zealand wicketkeeper has been at the forefront of some of cricket’s iconic moments for over three decades. His off-the-cuff style lent its voice perfectly to his nation’s triumph over England at Lord’s in 1999 after Richie Benaud vacated the microphone to allow Smith to call his country home. Smith called the incredible 2019 World Cup final between England and New Zealand perfectly, capturing the agony and ecstasy of that incredible super over.

13. MICHAEL VAUGHAN

Commentator, Fox Cricket and BBC

Not one to mince his words, the former England Test captain has made a habit of delivering raw, honest opinions from the commentary box. Vaughan provides viewers with honest assessments that aren’t always popular but are formed from undeniable cricket intelligence.

14. JONATHAN AGNEW

Commentator, BBC and ABC

One of the most widely respected voices in cricket. While his unfiltered approach meant he was never far from controversy, Agnew’s smooth tone combined with English wit were a cornerstone of BBC cricket coverage for decades.

15. MARK HOWARD

Commentator, Fox Cricket

Howard made a name for himself as one of the lead callers on Channel 10’s Big Bash broadcast and has gone on to become one of Australia’s premier commentators. His ability to navigate a day’s play and understand what it takes to bring the best out of the expert commentators is what makes Fox Cricket’s coverage so compelling. His famous line “Boland’s got six at the G … build the man a statue” will be one that goes down in Ashes folklore.

16. IAN CHAPPELL

Commentator, Channel 9

Part of the dream team at Channel 9 with Lawry, Greig and Benaud, Chapelli was utterly unafraid to offer his opinion, no matter how controversial. People either loved the elder Chappell brother or loathed him, but you couldn’t ignore him. He was the last of Channel 9’s famous four to retire aged 78, which he did in 2022 after 45 years behind the mic. Perhaps his attitude was captured by this quote on his retirement: “Some will think I’ve been a prick. That doesn’t bother me one bit.”

17. MARK WAUGH

Commentator, Fox Cricket and Triple M

Mark Howard and Kerry O’Keeffe call their Fox Cricket colleague ‘Frank Waugh’ because he only knows one way — to tell it as it is. Waugh is known to shift in his chair in frustration when a game loses momentum, such is his preference for teams who move the game on. He’s well-respected in the commentary box for his forthright views and piercing analysis. Although there are certain players who it’s safer not to ask the former Aussie batsman to name — just ask Fakhar Zaman.

18. MICHAEL ATHERTON

Commentator, Sky Sports

The former England opener excelled straight out of the gates in journalism after a successful on-field career. Revered for his very no-nonsense approach, which is reminiscent of his batting days, Atherton brings pure and detailed analysis in part of his pursuit to be a “commentator, not a cheerleader.” His experience as England captain in 54 Tests makes him particularly suited to the long format of the game.

19. TONY COZIER

Commentator, BBC, Channel 9 and Sky Sports

A proud Barbadian, Cozier was described by English journalist Scyld Berry as “the voice and the conscience of West Indian cricket.” Known for an extraordinary knowledge of statistics, he was specifically requested by Kerry Packer to call his renegade World Series Cricket competition. Beyond the field, he was a fierce advocate for West Indian cricket, unafraid to criticise boards for squandering the team’s once great legacy.

COMMENTARY GOLD:

• “The Queen’s Park Oval, exactly as its name suggests — absolutely round.”

20. MARK TAYLOR

Commentator, Channel 9 and Triple M

Taylor was one of the lead commentators through one of Australian cricket’s most successful eras on Channel 9. He still works for the network, featuring on Wide World of Sports on weekends. Taylor can still be heard on matchdays on Triple M where he has embraced the banter with his fellow callers.

21. ALLAN BORDER

Commentator, Fox Cricket

Known to many as ‘Captain Grumpy’, the legendary Border brought his ruthless and honest captaincy with him into the commentary box. While his battle with Parkinson’s has meant he has featured less on Fox Cricket in recent years, Border remains a sharp cricket mind with an eye for analysis of the modern game. He has been with Fox for more than two decades and as a former Australian captain and selector, brings a rare insight few others can to broadcasts. Border remains a revered figure in the box with fellow commentators like Mike Vaughan claiming Border was his idol.

22. MARK NICHOLAS

Commentator, Channel 9

The English commentator first featured on Channel 9 in the mid-2000s and became a staple of the network’s broadcast as a host. Nicholas is perhaps best remembered for the ultimate commentary jinx when he mentioned David Warner, who was on 97, had never been dismissed in the 90s. Of course, Warner went out next ball and his co-commentator Shane Warne could barely contain himself.

23. RAVI SHASTRI

Commentator, Fox Cricket

The larger-than-life Indian cricket legend has made a name for himself in the commentary box since his time as India’s head coach ended. Shastri has been a regular on Fox Cricket and provides the highlight of many broadcasts with his passionate introduction before the coin toss. His famous line is “like a tracer bullet” which he brings out when a batter hammers the ball to the boundary at speed. Shastri’s experience is telling in his strong analysis and he manages to bring humour to the broadcast as well.

COMMENTARY GOLD:

• “Like a tracer bullet”

• The call of a man eating his ice cream at a game: “He’s a big unit”

24. DAMIEN FLEMING

Commentator, Channel 7

The Bowlologist brings sharp insight from his playing days as a member of Australia’s fast bowlers cartel. The former Test cricketer coined phrases including the avenue of apprehension, the hallway of hesitation and pathway to the pavilion. Fleming’s observations mixed with his entertaining personality make for a highly popular on-screen voice.

COMMENTARY GOLD:

• “Avenue of apprehension”

25. NASSER HUSSAIN

Commentator, Sky Sports

One of the quickest transitions from the field to punditry just hours after his retirement, this English captain has since shown why Sky Sports were so quick to snap him up. He is well known for his enduring chemistry with Michael Atherton, whom he succeeded as England Test captain. Hussain brings an acute awareness of the game and tactical structures, using his light-hearted humour to explain the complexities of cricket to listeners across the globe.

– Compiled by George Al-Akiki, Lachlan McKirdy, Lachlan Dowling and Tim Michell

Originally published as Cricket’s greatest commentators since 2000 as voted by CODE Sports readers

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