9’s alternative of former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor as a diving commentator is actually making waves on the Olympics.
‘Tubby’, who performed 104 Checks for Australia together with 50 as skipper, is a part of 9’s diving commentary group in Paris, an odd alternative for a cricketer who has no affinity with the pool.
Taylor has been a staple of the 9 Community since his retirement from skilled cricket in 1999, most notably as a part of the station’s long-running cricket broadcast till 9 misplaced the rights in early 2018.
His presence behind the mic for the community’s protection of the synchronised diving has actually divided opinion, with followers taking to social media en masse to voice their confusion… and to take the mickey.
AAP reporter Oliver Caffrey was amongst these bewildered, saying the commentary appointment ‘seems like a twelfth Man bit’; referring, in fact, to the legendary collection of comedy albums making good-natured enjoyable of 9’s cricket commentary group, together with Taylor, by Billy Birmingham from 1984 to 2015.
The most effective of the bunch? In all probability one wit’s humorous cricket analogy referring to 9 Publishing’s latest announcement of a strike within the early days of the Olympics after negotiations with administration broke down.
Among the criticism was extra pointed, although: former Channel 10 climate presenter Tim Bailey slammed the transfer by 9, claiming it was ‘just a little disrespectful to the athletes’ to have a former cricketer commentating their sport.
“Mark Taylor calling the diving. A beautiful cricketer. However just a little disrespectful to the athletes,” Bailey wrote on X.
“Tubby probs is aware of nothing about this sport. He’s admitted as a lot.
“The EP who made this determination? You’re final.”
Taylor, nonetheless, a minimum of had former Australian Olympian Sam Fricker as his knowledgeable co-commentator.
Earlier than the Video games, Taylor stated he had been ‘madly studying up about diving historical past and the way it all works’.
“I’m truly having fun with the problem, to be completely trustworthy, to get entangled within the Olympics,” he stated.
Taylor’s sudden stint isn’t the one time 9 have courted controversy by appointing a former athlete to commentate a brand new sport: Australian doubles tennis legend Todd Woodbridge’s stint as host of 9’s protection of the 2023 Ashes likewise raised eyebrows, although a minimum of Woodbridge was restricted to internet hosting a studio panel and never truly concerned in play-by-play commentating.
Taylor’s debut foray into diving was not with out drama, as Australian duo Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith got here agonisingly near a gold medal within the three-metre synchronised springboard closing.
The pair appeared on monitor to a minimum of declare a medal after successful bronze in Rio in 2016, however on their final dive, a ahead 2.5 somesault with twist, Smith misplaced her footing as she launched off the board and botched the maneuvre.
“It’s fairly brutal. I screamed underwater,” a distraught Smith stated afterwards.
“I simply really feel unhealthy for letting the group down.”