A month after our team won a historic match in SA and warmed the hearts of supporters, it was the turn of the Pakistani supporters to get elated at the rare achievement of their team

The test match between SA and Pakistan was one interesting duel that seesawed till the last. It is not every day that teams from subcontinent register wins overseas, and achieving that in South Africa is no mean feat. India, thanks to Sreesanth’s explosive burst,  achieved it after years of trying  and Pakistan followed suit.

But guys. How about the ESPN commentary team for the match. Robin Jackman, Daryl Cullinan or Mbangwa. I found them extremely irritating and very inapt to say the least. A big let down

Understand they come from South Africa and have soft corner for their team. But that should be no excuse to the way they went about their job. The days of Suresh Saraiya and Ravi Chaturvedi are long over. Sports commentators today are expected to be judicial in their words and unbiased in their approach. Quality cricket has to be appreciated, regardless of a player’s nationality.

The ESPN team commentated as if South Africa was the only team playing on the ground. South African perspective ruled the roost and the other team was not given credit where it was due.

Take this example. Asif bowled this brilliant over to Gibbs. The first ball jagged in, the second left him, third literally cut him before the 4th ended his misery. To say a very beautiful over would be an understatement.

Now, naturally you expect the commentators to lavishly praise the bowler. You don’t get to see that magic display of swing and seam bowling every day. Far from praising, the commentators saw ‘break in concentration’ coupled with Gibbs’s ” lack of skill” and ‘loose defenses’ responsible for his demise. Only a passing reference to Asif’s mastery. Not fair.

Now explain this. Inzimam was playing one the best innings of his life. At least in South Africa. Calm and poised as he always is, the burly giant was beautifully farming the strike. Shepherding the likes of Sami, Kanerai and Asif, Inzi was toying with the much-famed SA attack. Pulls and cuts were punctuated with beautifully crafted drives and flicks.

But the commentary was quite oblivious to the happenings. They were deep dissecting and analyzing Makhaya Ntini 300 wicket feat, ” See. He has taken less number of tests (74), to achieve this commendable achievement”, quipped Robin Jackman. For the reference Lillie achieved the feat in 55, Kumble(65), Waqar(65) . No doubt, Makhaya’s feat is a wonderful, considering his humble origins, and is worth discussing but common sense tells that job in hand should get utmost preference.

Inzimam innings needed to be put in perspective and given due credit. But common sense is a rare commodity for this commentary team and they only got out of their Ntini analysis slumber after Asif wickets were sprayed. “ He is clean bold and SA will now bat”. As if we didn’t know!!!

Again when Pakistan was on the brink of victory. The ‘commentators failed again. As gracious hosts, rather than showering accolades on the visiting team, the good Samaritans were as usual digging around ‘where SA went wrong in the match…what they needed to do for the next match, who needs to be dropped. blah blah blah…). Now please, this team has beaten SA in their own land. Show some dignity and give tribute to the team.

This left a bad taste in the mouth to what otherwise was a wonderful test for cricket.

Anyway I hope for the next test, the commentators slumber will be over and their common sense returns.