5 times commentators were criticized for controversial on-air comments ft. Isa Guha
Commentators often play a vital role in helping viewers understand the game by breaking down and analyzing all the action on the field. They can go all out in praising a player or a team for their efforts while they also do not hold back on criticizing when and where needed.
There is often a lot of fun, laughter, and chatter in the commentary box, which gives the viewers interesting insights and inputs throughout. However, there have also been instances where several commentators, intentionally or unintentionally, have made remarks or comments on air that they should not have.
The most recent example being Isa Guha's comments on team India pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing third Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test, which triggered a lot of fans and led to a social media outrage.
That said, here are the five times commentators were criticized for making controversial on-air comments.
5 times commentators were criticized for controversial on-air comments
#5 Kerry O'Keeffe
Former Australia cricketer and commentator Kerry O'Keeffe made a controversial comment on air during the 2018 MCG Test between Australia and India. On the opening day of the Test, he made a comment on debutant Mayank Agarwal that sparked an outrage among Indian fans.
“Apparently [Mayank Agarwal] got his triple-century against Jalandhar Railways canteen staff. Who opened the bowling for them that day? The chef. First change? The kitchen hand. And they’ve got the spinner as well, the casual uni student,” he said.
O'Keeffe came under fire and had to issue a formal apology as well later on for his remarks on Mayank Agarwal and the Indian domestic cricket system.
#4 Dean Jones
The late Australian former cricketer and commentator Dean Jones was a widely respected and loved figure among cricket fans across the globe. However, he was severely criticized for his racist remarks on South African cricketer Hashim Amla during a Test between Sri Lanka and the Proteas in 2006.
Hashim Amla took a catch to dismiss Kumar Sangakkara following which, Dean Jones referred to Amla as a 'terrorist' on air.
"The terrorist has got another wicket," he said.
Jones, who was commentating for Ten Sports, was sacked immediately following his remarks.
#3 Nasser Hussain
During the one-off T20I between England and India in 2011, former England captain and commentator Nasser Hussain made a controversial statement about some of the Indian cricketers on air.
Commenting on India's fielding and hailing England as a better fielding side, Nasser said on air:
"I would say the difference between the two sides is the fielding. England are all-round a good fielding side. I do believe that India have few... three or four very good fielders and one or two donkeys in the field still."
#2 Michael Vaughan
Another former English captain and current commentator Michael Vaughan has been a part of several controversies for making unpleasant comments on air. One such instance occurred in 2011 when he accused Indian batter VVS Laxman of applying vaseline on his bat that did not allow the snicko to catch the edge.
On the second day of the Trent Bridge Test between England and India, Laxman survived a caught-behind appeal. While the Hot Spot did not show any deflection, the snicko showed there was a noise as the ball passed the bat.
#1 Isa Guha
The most recent controversy involving a commentator occurred during the ongoing third BGT 2024-25 Test between Australia and India when Isa Guha made a comment on Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah where she used a word that was not well received by Indian fans.
Praising Bumrah on Fox Cricket, she used the term 'primate.'
“Well, he’s the MVP isn’t he? Most Valuable Primate, Jasprit Bumrah," she said.
Ish Guha received severe criticism for her choice of words and also apologized for the same.
“Yesterday in commentary I used a word that can be interpreted in a number of different ways. I’d like to apologize for any offence caused,” she said on Fox Cricket.