While this series of the Ashes may not be the most awaited in history, it’s still cricket time. From the press release:
With a long-held reputation for first-class cricket broadcasting, Nine’s Wide World of Sports will showcase never-seen-before technology and other innovations in content and coverage to make the 2010-11 showdown between Australia and England the best Ashes series ever seen on television.
The great Richie Benaud will present the Ashes series for Wide World of Sports and lead an expert team of cricket commentators. Joining him in the commentary box will be Bill Lawry, Tony Greig, Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Michael Slater, Mark Nicholas and Shane Warne. Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist will be a special guest commentator throughout the season. With a combined 190 years of commentary experience, Nine’s broadcasting team will give viewers the best possible Ashes coverage.
As the players break for lunch each day during the Ashes, Nine’s Simon O’Donnell will present The Cricket Show, bringing viewers match highlights and updates, opinions, first session recaps, player profiles, The Lunchtime Grill, international and domestic viewer emails and live coaching clinics – plus all the latest news in the world of cricket. O’Donnell will be joined on The Cricket Show by members of Nine’s expert commentary team throughout the season.
As part of Nine’s multi-platform offering, the Wide World of Sports website wideworldofsports.com.au is the ultimate online destination for cricket lovers throughout the Vodafone Ashes Series. With regular breaking news, live scores, in-depth statistics and expert opinion from the commentary team, it is the perfect complement to Nine’s live broadcast.
Morning Rich, Morning all...
Vodafone Ashes Series
November 25-29: Australia v England, Brisbane – LIVE 9.30am AEDT
December 3-7: Australia v England, Adelaide – LIVE 9.30am AEDT
December 16-20: Australia v England, Perth – LIVE 9.30am AEDT
December 26-30: Australia v England, Melbourne – LIVE 9.30am AEDT
January 3-7: Australia v England, Sydney – LIVE 9.30am AEDT
Johnnie Walker All*Star Twenty20
November 21: Brisbane – LIVE 6.30pm AEDT
KFC Twenty20 Internationals
January 12: Australia v England, Adelaide – LIVE 6.30pm AEDT
January 14: Australia v England, Melbourne – LIVE 6.30pm AEDT
Women’s Twenty20 Matches
January 12: Australia v England, Adelaide – 2.00pm AEDT
January 14: Australia v England, Melbourne – 2.00pm AEDT
Commonwealth Bank Series
January 16: Australia v England, Melbourne – LIVE 1.00pm AEDT
January 21: Australia v England, Hobart – LIVE 1.00pm AEDT
January 23: Australia v England, Sydney – LIVE 1.00pm AEDT
January 26: Australia v England, Adelaide – LIVE 1.00pm AEDT
January 30: Australia v England, Brisbane – LIVE 1.00pm AEDT
February 2: Australia v England, Sydney – LIVE 1.00pm AEDT
February 6: Australia v England, Perth – LIVE 1.00pm AEDT
NB: Broadcast times are subject to change. Please check local TV guides.
Only two 20/20 matches and seven useless one day internationals. Don’t get me wrong, I love all forms of cricket, but which one is going to get the crowds and the ratings?
Cricket Australia appears to be run by the same people who thought bringing back Hey Hey It’s Saturday was a good idea.
And Channel 9? Please, please, please, please, inject some new talent into the commentary box. I know Richie is the doyen of cricket commentators, but his best days are well behind him. Bring in some of the superb English commentators like Mike Atherton and Nasser Hussein. Get rid of Tony Greig.
Chris, I completely agree with you. The ratio of ODI vs T20 matches is ludicrous – this shorter form of the game is much easier to digest (and the pain dissipates quicker when we get thumped).
The gene pool in the commentary box has become very shallow – lots of new blood is needed, lots of dead wood requiring trimming. I don’t think anchoring it with Mark Nicholas is the solution (as it is currently), however Richie has a special place and always deserves his call on what/when he’s involved. A tragedy they replaced him with this English hack. I quite enjoy Simon O’Donnell when he calls the games, and as much as it loathes me to say it I enjoy Shane Warne’s thoughts too. Bring in Justin Langer permanently, I say.
Shane Warne is a very good commentator. Also Damien Fleming. He’s always good for a laugh. And although Peter Roebuck probably doesn’t have a face for television, he has the best voice for a commentator in this country.
Did you know Mark Nicholas hosted a cooking show in the UK?
I know Mark Nicholas whores himself out all over the place – and the cooking show can be seen from time to time on GO! over here. Reason enough he should be banished.
I agree on Flem and Roebuck. ABC Grandstand is my usual source of cricketing pleasure when at work with no access to streamed TV or real TV.
All those times listed are Australian Eastern Daylight Time….I seriously doubt the Perth test will be starting at 0630 local time…
Yes – ironically the details sent to me stated the times were Qld time – but showed AEDT as the timings. Hmm…