Favorite Cricket Commentator: Cricinfo Poll Results

Cricinfo (now part of ESPN) released the results of the "favorite cricket commentator" poll today.

Results:

1. "Favorite commentator": 1. Harsha Bhogle 2. Ravi Shastri 3. Richie Benaud
2. "Most Entertaining": 1. Tony Greig 2. Geoff Boycott 3. David Lloyd
3. "Most Unbiased": 1. Richie Benaud 2. Harsha Bhogle 3. Ravi Shastri
4. "Most Insightful": 1. Ian Chappell 2. Richie Benaud 3. Harsha Bhogle

As with any poll/survey, the sample population, mostly Indians, seems to have heavily influenced the results. This is evident from the fact that Bhogle was most people's favorite commentator and someone like Tony Cozier, who has less exposure to Indian audiences failed to even get a mention. Harsha is by far the best Indian commentator, light years ahead of Sunil Gavaskar and it is good to see him recognized for this services.

It is however not surprising to see the Channel 9 team score heavily in this poll since it is by far the best commentating team in the history of cricket broadcasting.

Led by the impeccable Richie Benaud, the almost tyrannical Commentary Team Captain and the father of television cricket commentating, with a penchant for "cream, bone, white, off-white, ivory or beige" jackets and the uncanny knack of conveying more through less, the team has the perfect mix of analysts and entertainers that every commentary team should poseess.

Tony Grieg is the master entertainer whose high decibel screams and thick bass voice adds value to any cricketing action while Bill Lawry, Tony's nemesis and keen pigeon fancier, is a man with an unusually large nose (as a result of a childhood bout with "proboscitis"), has a tendency to declare all batsmen out regardless of the actual result and an abiding and one-eyed love of the state of Victoria, Merv Hughes, leg-spinner Shane Warne and Australia (which he pronounces "Straya"). Ian Chappell is quite the calming influence on this team and provides the most insightful analysis on a game situation like no one else. One of the best captains ever, Ian often speaks ahead of the game and remains my favorite commentator.

While additions like Mark Taylor and Ian Healy (the worst commentator ever, along with Ranjith Fernando) have diluted the quality a bit, the fab four have been holding their ground since the inception of the team in 1980.