Top 10 commentators in cricket

Commentators are a vital part of any cricket match. They make the game more interesting and exciting to watch as they narrate the events of the match with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. With their humor and and in depth analysis, they have the capability to turn the most boring and predictable game into an interesting one. We bring you a list of top 10 commentators in cricket.

Ravi Shastri

The charismatic Ravi Shastri is one of the best Indian commentators. The present team director of India, Shastri has always believed in his ideology of speaking his mind out since his playing career, which is something that sets him apart from the other Indian commentators of his era. Shastri’s ability to read the game and provide insights to the listeners makes him very special and this is why he has a very dynamic impact on the audience that love listening to him. He holds a special place in the hearts of all the Indian fans as he was behind the mic when M.S. Dhoni had lofted Kaniska Kulasekera for a six to win the 2011 world cup.

10. Danny Morrison

Former Kiwi swing bowler, Danny Morrison, is an absolute entertainer both on and off the field. He is more pronounced for the T20 formats or ODIs than the test matches as he loves to entertain the crowd. He is quite popular in domestic competitions like IPL, BigBash etc where his commentary is often regarded as the funniest of the lot.

9. Ravi Shastri

The charismatic Ravi Shastri is one of the best Indian commentators. The present team director of India, Shastri has always believed in his ideology of speaking his mind out since his playing career, which is something that sets him apart from the other Indian commentators of his era. Shastri’s ability to read the game and provide insights to the listeners makes him very special and this is why he has a very dynamic impact on the audience that love listening to him. He holds a special place in the hearts of all the Indian fans as he was behind the mic when M.S. Dhoni had lofted Nuwan Kulasekera for a six to win the 2011 world cup.

8. David Lloyd

One of the best commentators on Sky Sports and perhaps in England as well, David Lloyd a.k.a Bumble is also one of the most recognized names in world of cricket commenting. He commentates for almost all the England international matches, and does ICC tournaments for Fox. He adds unrelenting excitement to the game, with the use of witty words and hilarious comments. Some of his patent words and phrases are part of modern day cricket that other commentators love to use.

7. Ian Bishop

He may not be able to get the fans off their seats like a Danny Morrison or Navjot Singh Sidhu, but his calm and composed nature is what sets him apart. His commentary is like an education in cricket which helps you to learn a lot of stuff by just listening to him. Even in the high octane IPL he didn’t get carried away with all the drama and brought a sense of reason amidst the chaos around him.

6. Ian Chappell

Ian Chappell is a former Australian cricketer and a candid commentator. His voice quality, mode, pace, cricket insights, and sense of humor brings a great impact on listeners. Ian has the ability to produce a range of feelings such as eagerness, thrill or displeasure, annoyance, frustration, and tediousness by his excellent commentary.

5. Sourav Ganguly

He is the youngest commentator in the top ten which probably gives him an edge over the others as he is able to understand the modern game better than the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Arun Lal and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan. Being the former captain of India, he is able to analyze the game very well and often looks at match situations from a different point of view when compared to others. Dada’s greatest strength, as was the case during his playing career, is to speak his mind and he does his role on the mic quite efficiently with fluent English and a calm demeanour.

4. Mark Taylor

The channel Nine Network commentator Mark Taylor is someone who has a very good cricket acumen along with a very smooth voice which is pleasing to the ears. Generally seen in the company of fellow commentators, Michael Slater and Ian Healy (team Channel Nine), Taylor usually distances himself from pro Aussie statements. Taylor’s opinions are usually balanced and unbiased. He is not scared to voice his opinions on controversial matters. This along with his in depth analytical skills makes him the best commentator on Channel Nine.

3. Tony Greig

A possessor of unbelievable style of commentary, Tony Grieg projected the whole game marvelously and smartly to keep the viewers glued to their TV sets. He had conquered the hearts of cricket fans from all over the globe with his splendid commentory. He was very innovative and knew how to play with words. Listening to his commentary made you feel like you were actually watching the game. Unfortunately, Greig died in Sydney, New South Wales on 29 December 2012, aged 66, from cardiac arrest due to an apparent heart attack.

2. Harsha Bhogle

Number two on this list and quite rightly so. The Indian journalist turned commentator, Harsha began his career at the age of 19 with All India Radio. A graduate from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Harsha is the only commentator in the list who hasn’t played cricket at any professional level. His knowledge and understanding of the game is however better than most professionals. His good speaking skills, thorough knowledge and profound sense of humour make Harsha the most entertaining commentator today.

1. Richie Benaud

Richie Benaud was the finest observer who has ever existed in cricket. Some might even say that he was the best commentator / analyst in any game. Quite rightly, he was alluded as “The Bradman of the receiver”. The best thing about the former Aussie all-rounder was his ability to come up with something new, whatever the circumstances may be. Its a pity that we won’t get to hear his voice ever again. His death remains as a big loss in the whole cricket fraternity.