Saw this tweet earlier that includes a photo of the BT cricket production crew.

https://twitter.com/dylanjane1/statu...62495711612928

I had no idea so many people would be involved.

Im kinda surprised too actually.

Vaughan will be in India with TMS for the second Test, he's certainly keeping himself busy! He'll be home again for the 3rd Aus SA test I assume

I honestly don't get why Vaughan is so in demand by media. Is it just down to the 2005 win because i find him very unlikable and 'tabloidy'

Unfortunately that's why he's in demand.
The media assume that's what we like these days

Unfortunately if you are an ex England cricket captain you can have a job in media for life, especially if you had a successful winning period and in particular winning the Ashes.

Cricket has always had much more focus on the captain especially as they do most of the media for the team, so as a player you needed outstanding performances to get noticed and build a profile.

It was mentioned after the 2nd test that Vaughan wouldn't be back for the 3rd. He'll return for the Pakistan series. Ponting also won't be there for the 3rd test. He'll be there for the Big Bash.

Well I think Ponting is commentating on the Big Bash rather than being in the BT Sport studio.

that makes sense that means vaugn will only miss the last eng vs india test

Yeah, he's commentated for 10 since they had it. One of the main men. Will probably just link up with BT

pretty nice of Ather taking digs at Hussain on the Donkey comment since that was literally the sole point of BCCI being a headache for Sky commentators around 2012.

Can you elaborate please?

They were discussing about the outfield being the best in the world or something and Athers basically said Nasser are you saying that because of the donkey comment few years ago and trying to get into india good books.
was mentioned couple of times as well during the play.

Looks like it'll be Graeme Swann and Marcus North in the studio for the Aus v SA 3rd Test.

The Donkey comment wasn't the reason for the stand-off in 2012. That was purely financial - the BCCI argued that Sky had paid for the feed and were going to charge them extra (extortionate) costs to produce their own broadcast from the venue.

Anyway, didn't Nasser's comment come during the 2011 tour, and the 2012 stand-off only really became an issue in the early Autumn of 2012? I certainly never equated the two.

TBH the donkey issue was a factor in bcci getting more strict with the commentators during the time and pretty certain sky didn't like the way bcci wanted to control the coverage at the time.
The donkey comment was big news in India during the time and it wasn't liked by the players and board.
The fact Hussain and ather still know about it tells a story.
Collingwood even admitted that he was handicapped a lot in what he can say and literally critisim of India wasn't really allowed.

A very good chance the Hussain comments caused bcci to make a fuss in the first place considering it cought sky and tms off guard with the timings. Think sky already had plans of going to India and cover the series when the news broke out they won't be allowed until they actually paid up and they didn't.

Also got an impression in 2011-2012 period that bcci wasn't happy with the English media, there a video in you tube where shastri and Hussain have an argument before the 2nd test where shastri literally shouts and calls the English media all sorts of names and he hated them. the hatred of the English media was still there around 2012 and really bcci, the players and fans were all waiting for England to come for the payback series and so it isn't that surprising sky and the English press had issues in that tour.
Martin samuels was not allowed in the stadium because what he wrote in 2011.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine...ry/591247.html
Pretty sure a link between Hussain comments and sky and bcci having frosty relation during the time exist.
Considering bcci were controlling everything at the time, the press couldn't even use pictures from an agency but from bcci own photographers.
From all account wasn't a great tour for the press suppose Kharma won with England having the last laugh with England winning and bcci being embarrassed with the way they treated the English guest.

Plus was strong rumers at the time bcci hated anything England related in the media and made life difficult for everyone.
Sure you can link the money to the sky point, but not sure anyone got a reason for why Getty images were banned or why journalist had such a hard time in the media centre or in some cases even a pass to get in the stadium. Athers wasn't allowed a camera in the stadium in the first few test.

Bcci made life very difficult for the English press in that series and suspect hussain comments played a part.
TBH it wasn't even Hussain comments alone, Vaughan made headlines every two days think before there was a 13 mins video on all the controversy including the ones in India for the odi series that followed in you tube during the time bcci and the English press did not get on that frosty relation was the reason why sky didn't go to India with the money just being a reason for bcci to make a fuss so sky don't send a team to India.

should be noted this is a board that has a huge say on the production and media of the cricket in the country. With commentator being sacked or not used if they are not liked what they said.
Harsha out of favor for being pro opposition now and in the past manjrekar wasn't liked either and now is a favourite.
If a commentator can be sacked because a captain and famous Bollywood actor didn't like harsha praising nz spinners in the t20 World Cup on a neutral feed on a world competition then it isn't surprising bcci didn't like sky and Hussain after 2011 comments especially when bcci and the Indian players and public got offended by the donkey comment.
Bcci was definitely flexing it muscles at the time.

1st Test match: New Zealand vs Pakistan

Commentators: Craig Cumming, Waqar Younis, Mark Richardson, Simon Doull, Ian Smith and Shane Bond

Wonder where rameez raja is unless he is covering the India series for star.

I don't think he's commentating for Star. Seems like Waqar Younis is overtaking him as the No.1 Pakistani comm. Also, he lives in Australia so it it could be one factor in him being chosen by Channel 9.

Although on cricket I am retro and like the scorebar on the top and in NZ that was still the case 'til recently... However one thing I can say is the recent Sky NZ Cricket graphics at the bottom should show other broadcasters how it is done...

A single bar and a fairly small bar with just the team/score from time to time and then when required additional info (runs etc) across the same singular line at the bottom which only takes about half of the bottom of the screen. No empty pointless second bar below or huge chunky graphics or those BCCI swooshy animations etc etc...

Simple... fantastic and easy on the eye.

Have to agree on both points. I do still like the score at the top mostly because its out of the way and its what i grew up with!
and the amount of space wasted now by silly full-screen bar's with so much space not being used for something irks me royally!

And Scott Styris.