Print

Please post once and this message will disappear! Introduce yourself, say hello, jump into a discussion...

[ramshorns]

Kumble to go behind microphone

New Delhi: Former India Test captain Anil Kumble will join his former teammate Sourav Ganguly behind the microphone as an expert analyst for ESPN Star Sports in the ICC World Twenty20.

The ace Indian spinner, who retired from international cricket after carving his name on 619 Test wickets in a career spanning 17 years, will join the ESPN STAR Sports commentary panel which also includes Ian Chappell, Ian Bishop, Wasim Akram, Sanjay Manjrekar, Harsha Bhogle and Nasser Hussain.

“I have always wanted to contribute to the game of cricket whether on or off the field. My association with ESPN STAR Sports poses an interesting challenge for me as I have never tried serious analysis before,” Anil Kumble said.

“The T20 format does not leave much of a breathing space for both the player as well as the viewer as the match situation changes really fast. This fast format will surely open up many facets and nuances for the TV expert which I am sure will prove to be an enjoyable experience,” he added.

The announcement comes close on the heels of the signing of former skipper Ganguly on Wednesday. — PTI

[ramshorns]

It will be interesting to see between him and SG who turns out to be more insightful and articulate.  My money is on Kumble to be the better of the two.

[ruchir]

Hands down, Kumble over SG.

[dextrous]

Hands down, Kumble over SG.

While I can see why both might be equally good, one has to give it to you to stand up for unbiased, bold statements!

[poondu]

This DG is going to survive. RD vs SG, AK vs SG, SRT vs SG , SG vs SMG commentary wars will continue.

[inoc]

This DG is going to survive. RD vs SG, AK vs SG, SRT vs SG , SG vs SMG commentary wars will continue.

i hope not.

AK/RD/SRT/SG are equally articulate and will be better than the current crop.

if the DG is going to rely on this for its survival then, some people have had their calculations wrong.

some ppl will try to jeopardise this scenario, but it is for us to stamp it out at the outset. are we capable of that? big question for some maharathis.

[dextrous]

This DG is going to survive. RD vs SG, AK vs SG, SRT vs SG , SG vs SMG commentary wars will continue.

AK/RD/SRT/SG are equally articulate and will be better than the current crop.

Agreed though I'm not sure if Sachin will be as good as AK, SG, and RD. I'm extremely baffled at the determination by some to continue this SG addiction by bringing him in at every juncture in unrelated threads.

[Blwe_torch]

mid-life crisis?!
I hope not!

[hastalavistababy]

It will be interesting to see between him and SG who turns out to be more insightful and articulate.  My money is on Kumble to be the better of the two.

rush limbaugh said obama will fail 

[hastalavistababy]

Hands down, Kumble over SG.

rush limbaugh said obama will fail 

[ramshorns]

This DG is going to survive. RD vs SG, AK vs SG, SRT vs SG , SG vs SMG commentary wars will continue.

AK/RD/SRT/SG are equally articulate and will be better than the current crop.

Agreed though I'm not sure if Sachin will be as good as AK, SG, and RD. I'm extremely baffled at the determination by some to continue this SG addiction by bringing him in at every juncture in unrelated threads.

Just like most of us on this DG are when GC or JB or other Aussie players are brought down based on personal vendetta than on cricketing logic .  Wish you showed some of that empathy then so that it does not have to come down to this where in some of us have to take matters into our own hands and give back a taste of their own medicine.

Perhaps SG is important and a hero to some of you but for others that may not be true.

[CLR James]

Hands down, Kumble over SG.

rush limbaugh said obama will fail

He did. Obama's cricketing intelligence is next to nil. SG is of the same standard.

[Blwe_torch]

This DG is going to survive. RD vs SG, AK vs SG, SRT vs SG , SG vs SMG commentary wars will continue.

AK/RD/SRT/SG are equally articulate and will be better than the current crop.

Agreed though I'm not sure if Sachin will be as good as AK, SG, and RD. I'm extremely baffled at the determination by some to continue this SG addiction by bringing him in at every juncture in unrelated threads.

Just like most of us on this DG are when GC or JB or other Aussie players are brought down based on personal vendetta than on cricketing logic .  Wish you showed some of that empathy then so that it does not have to come down to this where in some of us have to take matters into our own hands and give back a taste of their own medicine.

Perhaps SG is important and a hero to some of you but for others that may not be true.

How can GC or JB be spared by the yardsticks of 'cricketing logic'?!!

JB's performance as a KKR coach is there for all to see...

GC too performed abysmally as Indian coach...........does it require another rewind?
Imagine... India didn't clear the first rounds of most tournaments soon after GC took over....not to mention the ultimate WC disaster.

Both the coaches somehow bargained off the team-spirit in pursuit of self-aggrandizement.

[ramshorns]

How can GC or JB be spared by the yardsticks of 'cricketing logic'?!!

JB's performance as a KKR coach is there for all to see...

GC too performed abysmally as Indian coach...........does it require another rewind?
Imagine... India didn't clear the first rounds of most tournaments soon after GC took over....not to mention the ultimate WC disaster.

Both the coaches somehow bargained off the team-spirit in pursuit of self-aggrandizement.

And so does Ganguly's performance is there for all to see in this year's IPL.   Just like is JB is the worst coach this year so is Ganguly the worst batsman this year in the IPL.

Look no one I think had an issue with calling out on the failures of JB or GC as coaches though I think GC was decent up until that WC disaster a team which by the way had Ganguly very much as an intergral part.

But then to you anything not pro-Ganguly will be hard to understand.

[Blwe_torch]

How can GC or JB be spared by the yardsticks of 'cricketing logic'?!!

JB's performance as a KKR coach is there for all to see...

GC too performed abysmally as Indian coach...........does it require another rewind?
Imagine... India didn't clear the first rounds of most tournaments soon after GC took over....not to mention the ultimate WC disaster.

Both the coaches somehow bargained off the team-spirit in pursuit of self-aggrandizement.

And so does Ganguly's performance is there for all to see in this year's IPL.   Just like is JB is the worst coach this year so is Ganguly the worst batsman this year in the IPL.

Look no one I think had an issue with calling out on the failures of JB or GC as coaches though I think GC was decent up until that WC disaster a team which by the way had Ganguly very much as an intergral part.

But then to you anything not pro-Ganguly will be hard to understand.

The WC disaster was just the topping. India had by then built up the reputation of being a first-round loser in any multi-team tournaments. May be we had lost about 4 or 5 tournaments in the first round itself, just prior to the WC.

How can you call that decent?! May be it was decent by GC 's own standards.
Infact, in South Africa too, India had fallen flat on it's face in the ODIs, in a bi-lateral series.
Up till this time GC had it all his way. He was the soul-power and he had all the support. But he could show no result.
Very similar to whatever happened with JB and KKR.

Then GC had to digest the ignominy of SG's return....very much against his own wish. WHat happened next?....India turned the tables in the Test matches and almost won the series.


In both cases the coaches who failed had all the power and support at their disposal and yet they failed miserably. I won't blame the players.
SG had a miserable IPL without doubt....nobody is denying that. But imagine what humiliation he had to go through, when his captaincy was taken away for no good reason. Even, with the benefit of hind-sight, it is a no-brainer that JB's cavalier act failed on its face. By humiliating Ganguly, he has done no benefit to KKR.
No wonder that he will be kicked out the next season.

[ramshorns]

How can GC or JB be spared by the yardsticks of 'cricketing logic'?!!

JB's performance as a KKR coach is there for all to see...

GC too performed abysmally as Indian coach...........does it require another rewind?
Imagine... India didn't clear the first rounds of most tournaments soon after GC took over....not to mention the ultimate WC disaster.

Both the coaches somehow bargained off the team-spirit in pursuit of self-aggrandizement.

And so does Ganguly's performance is there for all to see in this year's IPL.   Just like is JB is the worst coach this year so is Ganguly the worst batsman this year in the IPL.

Look no one I think had an issue with calling out on the failures of JB or GC as coaches though I think GC was decent up until that WC disaster a team which by the way had Ganguly very much as an intergral part.

But then to you anything not pro-Ganguly will be hard to understand.

The WC disaster was just the topping. India had by then built up the reputation of being a first-round loser in any multi-team tournaments. May be we had lost about 4 or 5 tournaments in the first round itself, just prior to the WC.

How can you call that decent?! May be it was decent by GC 's own standards.
Infact, in South Africa too, India had fallen flat on it's face in the ODIs, in a bi-lateral series.
Up till this time GC had it all his way. He was the soul-power and he had all the support. But he could show no result.
Very similar to whatever happened with JB and KKR.

Then GC had to digest the ignominy of SG's return....very much against his own wish. WHat happened next?....India turned the tables in the Test matches and almost won the series.

Again all your rhetoric and no substance or cricketing merit to debate.  It is very clear when you say things like "digest the ignominy" you are just into your normal mode of personal vendetta without any basis to say what you are saying factually speaking.

And coming to the WC we all know how well Ganguly played in that BD match not being able to force the pace after getting set and getting out when greater players would make a start count.  Ofcourse Ganguly not being a great batsman is clear to many when one analyses his career as a batsman but even good batsman I have seen in situations like that come good to take a team to safety.  It is real easy to sit and blame the coach for all ills.  To me they all failed equally and it is foolhardy to lay it on Chappell and exonerate the team which had players like SRT and RD and VS and YS and AK in the midst.

In both cases the coaches who failed had all the power and support at their disposal and yet they failed miserably. I won't blame the players.
SG had a miserable IPL without doubt....nobody is denying that. But imagine what humiliation he had to go through, when his captaincy was taken away for no good reason. Even, with the benefit of hind-sight, it is a no-brainer that JB's cavalier act failed on its face. By humiliating Ganguly, he has done no benefit to KKR.
No wonder that he will be kicked out the next season.

Again your rhetoric.  No amount of chastising will change you.  Before we go on with this Ganguly humiliation I do not think outside of Ganguly fanatic club anyone will even consider this or buy into it.  Why would anyone sympathise with a player who had pocketed $1 Million and given a place in all 14 games majority of them batting in the top 4 spots.  It is not a humiliation of Ganguly as much as it is of the average fan who were taken for a ride by SRK and JB's banana republic way of running the franchise and let down by overpaid players like Ganguly batting with efforts like 14 ball 4 while chasing totals in excess of 180.  So to me Ganguly made out OK in all this while the fans are the ones if any that got humiliated in this whole sage for backing a poor team.

[Blwe_torch]

my dear..........you were supposed to defend chappel and buchanan here and you end up naming(blaming) ganguly 7 or 8 times.

OK ...Ganguly played in the WC, which wasn't Chappel's fault.............but what about the other tournaments where SG didn't play and India were ousted in the first round itself?
Where can Chappel hide for those failures?
The way he functioned and influenced team-selection...thanks to some obliging selectors and supporting media, was it too much to expect good result from his team?

[dextrous]

my dear..........you were supposed to defend chappel and buchanan here and you end up naming(blaming) ganguly 7 or 8 times.

OK ...Ganguly played in the WC, which wasn't Chappel's fault.............but what about the other tournaments where SG didn't play and India were ousted in the first round itself?
Where can Chappel hide for those failures?
The way he functioned and influenced team-selection...thanks to some obliging selectors and supporting media, was it too much to expect good result from his team?

In Literary theory, it is called "a ganguly-centric approach"

[ramshorns]

my dear..........you were supposed to defend chappel and buchanan here and you end up naming(blaming) ganguly 7 or 8 times.

OK ...Ganguly played in the WC, which wasn't Chappel's fault.............but what about the other tournaments where SG didn't play and India were ousted in the first round itself?
Where can Chappel hide for those failures?
The way he functioned and influenced team-selection...thanks to some obliging selectors and supporting media, was it too much to expect good result from his team?

I am no big fan of GC or his coaching methods overall as much as you are a fanatic of Ganguly.  I was just trying to show and bust out your blame the coach for all ills approach when the players too having a role here to play and in turn exposing your personal vendetta and hate and the blind hero worship of Ganguly.

So...

And I thought Chappell paid by losing his job when the mission was not accomplished.  No.

[ramshorns]

my dear..........you were supposed to defend chappel and buchanan here and you end up naming(blaming) ganguly 7 or 8 times.

OK ...Ganguly played in the WC, which wasn't Chappel's fault.............but what about the other tournaments where SG didn't play and India were ousted in the first round itself?
Where can Chappel hide for those failures?
The way he functioned and influenced team-selection...thanks to some obliging selectors and supporting media, was it too much to expect good result from his team?

In Literary theory, it is called "a ganguly-centric approach"

Just like your Ganguly fanatic club's  "Aussie Centric approach".

[Blwe_torch]

my dear..........you were supposed to defend chappel and buchanan here and you end up naming(blaming) ganguly 7 or 8 times.

OK ...Ganguly played in the WC, which wasn't Chappel's fault.............but what about the other tournaments where SG didn't play and India were ousted in the first round itself?
Where can Chappel hide for those failures?
The way he functioned and influenced team-selection...thanks to some obliging selectors and supporting media, was it too much to expect good result from his team?

I am no big fan of GC or his coaching methods overall as much as you are a fanatic of Ganguly.  I was just trying to show and bust out your blame the coach for all ills approach when the players too having a role here to play and in turn exposing your personal vendetta and hate and the blind hero worship of Ganguly.

So...

And I thought Chappell paid by losing his job when the mission was not accomplished.  No.

I don't believe that I am a fanatic.............neither do I have any great ambitions of influencing people's thinking. I am just trying to defend a good (ex)player against some very vitriolic attacks, which I think are unnecessary.

[ramshorns]

my dear..........you were supposed to defend chappel and buchanan here and you end up naming(blaming) ganguly 7 or 8 times.

OK ...Ganguly played in the WC, which wasn't Chappel's fault.............but what about the other tournaments where SG didn't play and India were ousted in the first round itself?
Where can Chappel hide for those failures?
The way he functioned and influenced team-selection...thanks to some obliging selectors and supporting media, was it too much to expect good result from his team?

I am no big fan of GC or his coaching methods overall as much as you are a fanatic of Ganguly.  I was just trying to show and bust out your blame the coach for all ills approach when the players too having a role here to play and in turn exposing your personal vendetta and hate and the blind hero worship of Ganguly.

So...

And I thought Chappell paid by losing his job when the mission was not accomplished.  No.

I don't believe that I am a fanatic.............neither do I have any great ambitions of influencing people's thinking. I am just trying to defend a good (ex)player against some very vitriolic attacks, which I think are unnecessary.

I think you are a fanatic IMO.  But I do not think outside of the Ganguly fan club there is anyone out here who thinks there are any vitriolic attacks excepting when the shoe is on the other foot it does not feel good.  I hope you excercise similiar restraint you are trying to preach here when you spew your venom on other players Aussies in particular by making statements like 'Good Riddance' a clear example of what vitriol is.

[Blwe_torch]

my dear..........you were supposed to defend chappel and buchanan here and you end up naming(blaming) ganguly 7 or 8 times.

OK ...Ganguly played in the WC, which wasn't Chappel's fault.............but what about the other tournaments where SG didn't play and India were ousted in the first round itself?
Where can Chappel hide for those failures?
The way he functioned and influenced team-selection...thanks to some obliging selectors and supporting media, was it too much to expect good result from his team?

I am no big fan of GC or his coaching methods overall as much as you are a fanatic of Ganguly.  I was just trying to show and bust out your blame the coach for all ills approach when the players too having a role here to play and in turn exposing your personal vendetta and hate and the blind hero worship of Ganguly.

So...

And I thought Chappell paid by losing his job when the mission was not accomplished.  No.

I don't believe that I am a fanatic.............neither do I have any great ambitions of influencing people's thinking. I am just trying to defend a good (ex)player against some very vitriolic attacks, which I think are unnecessary.

I think you are a fanatic IMO.  But I do not think outside of the Ganguly fan club there is anyone out here who thinks there are any vitriolic attacks excepting when the shoe is on the other foot it does not feel good.  I hope you excercise similiar restraint you are trying to preach here when you spew your venom on other players Aussies in particular by making statements like 'Good Riddance' a clear example of what vitriol is.

I am not preaching restraint. I am just defending one of my fav players from unfair criticism. And if I have said Good riddance for some Aussie player...so be it......thats my personal choice. I am not seeking any sanction for my personal comments.

[keep-it-cool]

Ok Anil on air. Good going so far.

[LosingNow]

Ok Anil on air. Good going so far.

not on our feed!

[keep-it-cool]

He was in the studio when I posted that.

[poondu]

his commentary was pretty disappointing

[keep-it-cool]

Everyone will take some time to find their bearings when they have to comment on live action. I thought he was good in the studio. Even when he came on live later, it was good to see someone who only talks when there is something worth saying.

[WicketView]

Can we give them a bit of respite when they are commentating, or will we be dissecting every move they make even now? I really feel that we should not be expecting  insights  to drip from every word they utter.

[gouravk]

i think he was good and holds a lot of promise.

[Cover Point]

Can we give them a bit of respite when they are commentating, or will we be dissecting every move they make even now? I really feel that we should not be expecting  insights  to drip from every word they utter.

Well, we never expect any insight from Ganguly. He is about to meet our* expectations

*Our refers to non gangulians

[unni13]

Can we give them a bit of respite when they are commentating, or will we be dissecting every move they make even now? I really feel that we should not be expecting  insights  to drip from every word they utter.

Well, we never expect any insight from Ganguly. He is about to meet our* expectations

*Our refers to non gangulians

Anyway, he will be far better than Dravid, imo.
Kumble was too plain, for a start, but may improve later, hopefully.

[k-slice]

wow!!
on a removed note for who will be better etc(i think it is comparing oranges and apples. SG has his own worth as does AK) i find it interesting that they will be commenting on payers they have either captained or played alongside. I think their insights into these players and their games will be a little deeper then say Gavaskars or manjrekars. Both will also come into the box with newer anecdotes etc of current players and themselves, something i would be interested in. I am really looking forward to both. SG with his straightforwardness and AK with his analysis, which i am sure he will have.

[WicketView]

Can we give them a bit of respite when they are commentating, or will we be dissecting every move they make even now? I really feel that we should not be expecting  insights  to drip from every word they utter.

Well, we never expect any insight from Ganguly. He is about to meet our* expectations

*Our refers to non gangulians

I thought you were the head-Gangulian .
So, I take it that if anyone complains about SG's supposed lack of insight then he would be a Gangulian. For the non-Gangulians never expected it.

[unni13]

I wish, they sit on the commentary box and not the formal studios, where they may feel rather restricted.

[mm]

So so debut by Kumble in his first outing. He is extremely intelligent and can read the game so well but commentary requires a special skill, to be able to pick up threads and make it interesting and insightful rather than just relaying the facts. Harsha does that well, so does Ian Chappell, Nasir Hussein, David Lloyd and Shastri to some extent (I am not a Sanjay Manjrekar fan). 

Kumble will learn, sometimes it almost felt like he was answering Harsha's questions as an interviewee.  I'd put my money on him to become a good commentator and I would also put my money on Ganguly, Dravid but not on Sachin or Laxman.

[dextrous]

Currently, Kumble would be perfect as an expert voice as he's hesitant to speak all the time. As mm put it brilliantly, he was answering questions. After he gets comfortable with filling time, he can do a good job alongside a seasoned veteran.

[Libran]

his commentary was pretty disappointing

If we have been on this DG for sometime, every Indian cricketer worth his salt will sound disappointing unless it is a VVS Laxman 

     I want to also make a VVS centric clique' .. poor guy must be feeling left out... no...not from the Dc playing XI

That is a given anyways

[dextrous]

his commentary was pretty disappointing

If we have been on this DG for sometime, every Indian cricketer worth his salt will sound disappointing unless it is a VVS Laxman 

     I want to also make a VVS centric clique' .. poor guy must be feeling left out... no...not from the Dc playing XI

That is a given anyways

theres a VVS thread now!

[justforkix]

So so debut by Kumble in his first outing. He is extremely intelligent and can read the game so well but commentary requires a special skill, to be able to pick up threads and make it interesting and insightful rather than just relaying the facts. Harsha does that well, so does Ian Chappell, Nasir Hussein, David Lloyd and Shastri to some extent (I am not a Sanjay Manjrekar fan). 

Kumble will learn, sometimes it almost felt like he was answering Harsha's questions as an interviewee.  I'd put my money on him to become a good commentator and I would also put my money on Ganguly, Dravid but not on Sachin or Laxman.

to summarize, what he said was good, way he said it was not up to the mark. I don't think anyone of RD/SG/AK will eventually become good commentators.