Sunday, May 17, 2009

What is a Commentator's Job?

Besides the obvious of commenting on the game, I believe it should also be to be insightful and informative.

But all the commentators have managed to do in the IPL is go gaga over some sponsored phrases, and make one blunder after another.

Some blunders by the commentators can be forgiven considering the kind of intense cricket that is being played in the IPL.

But some are just sinful.

For example the one Rameez Raja and the ones that followed him made when Sangakkara stumped Andrew Symonds.

For those who missed it, I'll try and describe what happened.

Yuvraj bowled, Symonds missed and fell way out of the crease, Sanga missed the ball, dived to get it and dislodged one bail in the process, got the ball, and broke the stumps with it.

While the third umpire was viewing the replays, Rameez Raja went on about how it was not out because one bail had been dislodged by the glove before Sanga had the ball in hand.

Now Rameez was not alone in what he thought.

I thought the same thing. It happens to the best of us.

The problem does not lie in what Rameez Raja said. It lies in what happened after the 3rd umpire gave it out.

Here I was sitting surprised as to how the 3rd umpire could have given it out. Did he not see the bail drop before Sanga got the ball and broke the stumps?

I waited for the commentators that replaced Rameez to say something.

I expected them to scrutinize the decision.

I expected them to explain the 3rd umpire's decision.

Either say that the 3rd umpire was wrong, and if not, then explain why he was right.

But none of that happened.

The commentators remained quiet and did not discuss the Symonds dismissal at all.

I found out through Homer and Sam that Symonds was in fact out; according to the rules, if one bail has been dislodged the stump does not need to be uprooted, the other bail can be dislodged to run or stump the batsman out.

Why didn't the commentators explain that?

Is it not their job to educate the viewers as well?

Was it not their job to explain why Rameez Raja was wrong and the 3rd umpire right?

Now all it looks like is that Rameez Raja's buddies swept his blunder under the carpet!

And continued with their non stop nonsensical act that they call commentary.

Make your pitch on this post...



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13 Pitched:

  1. Ankit Poddar said...
     

    Q,

    i guess, they would have informed us, had they known it, most of them are ignorant fools, who can as you said, go ga ga over the sponsors!

  2. 12th Man said...
     

    I had the same doubt and wasn't surprised when Ramiz called it not out. But i said to myself that Sanga could have dislodged the second bail, which Homer and Sam have clarified now.

  3. 12th Man said...
     

    A commentator's job is add value to the pictoral information, which is obvious to everyone.

    But you are expecting too much from salesmen Q.

  4. scorpicity said...
     

    Oh well...Raja made a mistake and his colleagues did not want to embarrass him. It would indeed have been nice if someone could have told Raja and quietly sneak in a correction talk about the dismissal in air. Self-praising seems to have caught on so much.

  5. karachikhatmal said...
     

    rameez has usually been an idiot, but what the ipl has also done is sucked the life out of the interesting commentators, most notably robin jackman.

    of course, there are some who haven't sold out like cozier, and... er...

    hmmm

  6. Q said...
     

    Ankit: did u notice how quickly Rameez was replaced when he was going on abt how it was not out?

  7. Q said...
     

    12th Man: I dont think im expecting too much. Ive seen it happen before in ODIs and tests where commentators have gone on to explain a few rules, dissect a decision, etc...

    They have sold their souls to Modi in the IPL and forgotten what their job is.

  8. Q said...
     

    Scorps: The commentary has gone to the dogs in the IPL!

  9. Q said...
     

    KK: not many others... telling you, they have all sold their souls to Modi and free booze flowing in the boxes..

  10. Rayden said...
     

    You all people want all information for free. I am sorry but this is IPL run by Lalit Modi. If you want answers to what the commentators are saying you have to call a special 1-800 number setup by IPL. Charges are Rs. 10,000 per minute including call waiting when you are put on hold by a drunk commentator. On the bright side, if your question is selected as the best question of the day then you could win a free TShirt with Lalit Modi's face on it and be eligable for Mr. Bollywood contest. What more do you guys want?????

  11. Anonymous said...
     

    ignore it ma. 6 days more n all wud forget...

  12. Q said...
     

    Rayden: I wont be surprised if that is implemented from next season.

  13. Q said...
     

    Sam: We'll forget abt it in 6 days when its all over.. but what abt when it comes back next year? and the year after? and after? and after?

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