5 things that make cricket viewers want to break their TV sets

As cricket has evolved over the years, it has become as much about the paying spectator and the television audience as it is about the cricketers and the cricket on show. With modern day cricket having so much money pumped into it, the needs of advertisers and sponsors have to be fulfilled, and somewhere in between all this, the needs, the interests and the comfort of the paying public is left wanting. Here are 5 of the most irritating things in cricket, purely as a viewer.

1. Rain Delays/Abandonments

This, no one has any control over, but is frustrating nonetheless. What should have been a good day either at the stadium, or in front of the television set turns into either a frustrating wait or an infuriating no show. While on most occasions, this cannot be controlled, sometimes boards can be more responsible with the scheduling. For example, between 2003 and 2006, almost every year, a match was scheduled to be held in Chennai between October and December, which is typically the monsoon months in Tamil Nadu. On cue, all the games were affected by rain, some getting washed out, and one particular test match between India and Sri Lanka where not even two innings could be completed.

Also, almost every year, a series is scheduled in Sri Lanka in the months of October and November, which turns into a deluge every time. Last month’s series against New Zealand bore striking resemblances to the series against West Indies a few years back, when every game in both Hambantota and Pallekele was massively affected by the elements.

2. Delays in Sight Screen adjustment

How often have we seen a policeman, or some other stadium staff walk in front of the sight screen just as the ball is about to be delivered? This has to be one of the most infuriating things as a batsman, and as a viewer, you wonder whether that couldn’t have been avoided. Obviously, it can be avoided. All it takes, is a little bit of enlightening of the security personnel and other ground staff, letting them know that it is disturbing for a batsman, and that it shouldn’t be done. Apart from troubling the batsman, the bowlers also are frustrated, because a batsman invariably pulls out of the delivery if such a thing happens, and that is the last thing a bowler would want after coming off a reasonable run-up, especially if the conditions are hot and humid.

3. Bad Light

On some grounds, stoppages due to bad light cannot be avoided. But, a lot of times, stoppages due to bad light occur on grounds where there are full-fledged floodlights in place. What is the use of having floodlights if they aren’t to be used? An India v England ODI from 2009 at Kanpur springs to mind. The match was stopped due to bad light, and didn’t resume afterwards, giving India a victory as per the Duckworth-Lewis method. The match was interestingly poised, and a couple of wickets could have tilted it England’s way. But, the match didn’t resume, because even though the Green Park Stadium had floodlights, they couldn’t be used.

Many times, commentators have been heard saying that the two teams have agreed that floodlights will not be used in that particular series. It defeats the very purpose of having additional artificial lighting capabilities at the venue.

4. Ad Breaks

This is not just for the TV Viewer these days. Even in stadia across India, when a wicket falls or a boundary is hit, a large business house’s advert flashes on the screen when fans would much rather prefer to watch the shot, or the delivery, as the case may be. Almost always, the replay is never shown on the screen.

For the TV viewer, it is even worse, as every small opportunity is cashed upon. If a player is injured and receiving treatment, there is an ad break. If a wicket falls, there is no room for the commentator to analyze the dismissal, there is an ad break. If an over is completed, and there is a significant event happening off the last ball, there is no chance that the viewer gets to watch it on a replay, there is an ad break. Yes, sponsorship money is essential, but to cash in while compromising on the cricket is irresponsible of the broadcaster.

5. Monotonous Commentary

Commentators are supposed to make the game more interesting for the viewer to watch. However, barring certain games, all the commentators do is to repeat certain anecdotes time and again, and earn their stuff. There is absolutely no feeling among commentators these days that being unbiased is a prerequisite to being a commentator. Yes, you can talk about the pros and cons of your team, but to defend your team at the most inexplicable of situations can only be termed as bizarre. Some commentators these days just make you wish that you turn the television set on mute and continue watching the game.

Yes, a few commentators are there who do justice to their job. For example, the whole Sachin farewell was only embellished by the words of Harsha Bhogle. The insight that a Shane Warne, a Sourav Ganguly, a Mark Taylor or a Rahul Dravid can offer is something that any cricket fan would crave for. But, that has become an exception rather than a norm.

Without anecdotes like “He’s hit that like a tracer-bullet”, and “X have lost half their side” whenever a team loses its fifth wicket, the viewer’s watching experience will be done “a world of good”.