Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath to lead Channel 7 commentary team for India series

India will begin their 12th tour of Australia in history with the first T20I at the Gabba, Brisban, on November 21.

They had once been a nightmare for Indian batsmen and bowlers. However, the Asian side will be more relieved this time as the once formidable duo of Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath will be seeing them from behind the glass doors of the commentary box for the upcoming series featuring three T20Is, four Tests and three ODIs. Led by Virat Kohli, India will begin their 12th tour of Australia in history with the first T20I at the Gabba, Brisban, on November 21.

India are currently ranked above Australia in all the three formats of the game and according to the pundits, this is their best chance to beat the Aussies in their own den, especially in the four-Test series. India have never won a Test series in India and were beaten 0-4 and 0-2 in their last two visits, respectively.

Ponting and McGrath will be spearheading the panel of former Australian cricketers in Channel 7’s commentary box. According to a report in InsideSport, the “New Home for Cricket in Australia”, which brought to an end the four-decade reign of Channel 9 on Australian cricket with a $450 million joint bid with Fox Cricket, Seven is all prepared for its first major assignment this summer Down Under.

Among other members in the panel are former Australian cricketers Michael Slater, Damien Fleming, Simon Katich and others. Also, there are Bruce McAvaney, Dirk Nannes, Lisa Sthalekar, James Brayshaw, Mel McLaughlin, Andy Maher and Abbey Gelmi.

Promotional Ad faces criticism

However, Seven also faced criticism over the promotional video for the series which features the big names of the commentary panel. According to a report in news.com.au, the Ad featuring Ponting, McGrath and other leading faces in the Seven commentary team is “awkward”. It said, “the cricket legends featuring in the ad are the real victims as Aussie sport commentators are crying foul of the promotion designed to show-off Seven’s world class commentary team and its free-to-air coverage of the Aussie summer of cricket.”

Seven reportedly launched another promotional video on its social media platforms later, showing the same panelists to minimise the damage.