Chris Rattue: Doull our best in the commentary box

Jesse Ryder of the Black Caps celebrates scoring a century during game six of the one day series between New Zealand and Pakistan at Eden Park. Photo / Getty Images

Sport floods into our homes no matter what time of year it is, as we have seen this weekend.

This means we have a relentlessly long list of guests - the commentators. So what do we think of the voices that shape our opinions?

Simon Doull

The best TV sports commentator in New Zealand for my money. Doull has gone a long way to covering for the loss of Martin Crowe in the cricket commentary box, although no one has Crowe's insight or authority.

Doull is a mumbo-jumbo-free zone and instantly mastered the art of objective analysis without fearing people wouldn't know he roots for New Zealand. (The rugby commentators should take note.) Doull thinks and speaks precisely.

I caught snippets of the ODI match on Saturday, and heard him in a debate on whether runners should be allowed for injured batsmen. He gave precise reasons for banning runners - his views and rationale had you thinking.

His strong presence allows the more random-sounding thoughts of Craig McMillan and Mark Richardson to work - Doull is the gun among loose cannons. Doull would be an outstanding replacement in world cricket for Mark Nicholas, the obsequious English frontman who has done a brilliant job of proving there will never be another Richie Benaud.

Ian Smith

Still very good but has adopted a cute and comfortable style rather than relying on the clipped, information-rich delivery that served Richie Benaud so well.

It is unfair to compare anyone with the Aussie master, but a secret of Benaud's success is that you feel his love of cricket comes way before any feelings for himself. Smith has been overtaken by the sharper Doull as our lead cricket man. In saying this, though, Smith is still a fine cricket commentator. And he is superb as a rugby sideline eye where he spots the little things that count, although you sense he wouldn't say anything that might ruin a dinner
invitation from the All Blacks.

Craig McMillan

The one-time media basher is surprisingly good in small doses, with a self-effacing style that delivers slightly wacky and impulsive thinking which helps explain his own highs and lows as a cricketer. Cameos? Yes. Lead commentator? No.

Mark Richardson

Juggles a wide-ranging media career and styles very well. Has no problem raising a subject. Richardson appears to have a character at odds with his famously pared-back batting style, although maybe his delivery and reputation make him sound more zany than he is. The bottom line: we are well served with our cricket commentators, as we have been over the years, though I'd dearly love a Crowe comeback. A few more genuine commentator anecdotes - not involving themselves - wouldn't go amiss.

Daryl Halligan

League coverage relies heavily on the opinionated Halligan despite his bully- boy tone. There were worrying signs from Greymouth, though, where Halligan was struck with the curse of Peter "Ropo" Ropati - also known as football in mouth disease. Fear struck as the word football popped up twice in the same Halligan sentence ... we can't go through another era of being separated from rugby league by a common language.

Former kicking ace Halligan is a coaching gun for hire and a recent Kiwi selector - you sense at times he may know more than he can reveal because of conflicts of interest.

Halligan drops hints instead. One of his former missions in life was arguing with the now-departed Ropo, and we could all understand that.

With Jason "Costo" Costigan also dumped, Halligan has run out of sparring partners because even he couldn't pick on wee Stephen McIvor. Then again, will Halligan devour McIvor and be the last man standing?

Stephen McIvor

McIvor has big cliches to fill replacing dumped league caller Jason Costigan and will be best served by not trying. Costo overdid the hyperbole, and wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but I was in the camp which liked him, although not for test matches. There's no accounting for taste, even your own.

McIvor did a reasonable job from Greymouth on Saturday and had done his homework. Going on the best available information, McIvor will be the run of play caller this year. League comrades believe Maori TV's Dale Husband is the man for this Sky job. You sense a campaign in the air.

McIvor is a Robin turned Batman, which takes getting used to. His longtime role was the chirpy studio host. He did commentary for NRL curtainraisers at Mt Smart Stadium. His best hope is to play things straight and not annoy too many people. Wish McIvor all the best, for our sake and his.

The Rugby Commentators

This large group, including the wider training group, needs a team talk over tactics. They won't or can't - the sport and the broadcaster have become inseparable business partners who want to control debates, believing it is to their commercial advantage.

The New Zealand mob isn't as bad as the Aussie trio of Kearnsy, Marto and Clarky, entertaining Super Rugby commentators who lose the plot in tests revealing their over-protective instincts for the wobbly Wallabies. But our commentators - Grant "Nisbo" Nisbett, Tony "TJ" Johnson et al - have bowed (perhaps willingly) to the great New Zealand rugby machine and its relentless effort to hijack and twist patriotism.

Justin Marshall's presence has eased this situation and, having lived and played overseas recently, he finds charm in opposing players. But Marshall's style is overblown.

Any new broom must follow the same lines. Jon Preston, a wider training group member, has class but some find him too dull.

Brief All Black Jason O'Halloran plays it straight with insight - he's excellent and has major potential. Overall though, New Zealand rugby commentary lost the good way. Spin, unfortunately, is entrenched.

Everything is glorious in the garden. Rare departures from the company line are token gestures - and in Murray Mexted's case dangerous to future employment.

The top TV rugby commentator in world rugby? The South African Joel Stransky is up there.