Chappelli

[redback]

Why isnt Ian Chappel on chanel 9 anymore some one told me he got the sack is this true and anyone know why???

[Occasional Fan]

There's a reference to him being sacked in the Ian Smith thread, but I've no idea why.

[Maranello]

were No, he has not been sacked, simply "rested" from the Adelaide Test to make way for Mark Nicholas. IMO Mark Nicholas is really no substitute for Benaud, or for Chappell. Chappell is one of the shrewdest observers of the game, Nicholas is a thoroghly decent fellow but not someone renowned for his cricketing brain.

Extracts from a news article below:

Chappell dumped by Nine
D.D. McNicoll By D.D.McNicoll and Malcolm Conn
November 24, 2004

LEGENDARY Australian cricketers Ian Chappell and Dennis Lillee have been sidelined from the game. Former captain Chappell has been dropped from Nine's commentary team for Friday's Adelaide Test with New Zealand [...]. Chappell - one of the game's most influential captains - is understood to have temporarily lost his place on the commentary team to accommodate Englishman Mark Nicholas.

Cricket experts say the move is strong evidence the former England A captain is being groomed to take over the network's lead commentary role from Richie Benaud.

Nine's upheaval comes as the 74-year-old Benaud, the network's face and voice of cricket since 1977, is rumoured to be retiring in the next 12 months.

Chappell, 61, [..] has been a key member of Nine's team since he quit first-class cricket in 1978. Asked how he felt about being sidelined for his home state Test yesterday, Chappell snapped, "You'd better check with the producer" - before abruptly ending the call.

Nine's spokesman Jamie Campbell later said Chappell had not been replaced and had, in fact, requested to be omitted from the Adelaide Test coverage. "Basically the commentators get together and decide who will commentate where," Mr Campbell said. "Ian Chappell requested not to be sent to Adelaide." But a furious Chappell has told friends he is angered at being left off the eight-man commentary roster for the Test at his old home ground.

[Zainub]

Mark Nicholas is no disrespect to him a level headed man but replacement for Richie Benaud, not sure I'd think replacement would be an apt term to use here technically speaking...

[Beny]

I'm not sure weather I like Mark Nicholas yet. He's a pom but I love the accent.

[Occasional Fan]

He'll never be able to replace Benaud though. Talks too much for a start.

I think Richie Benaud has an OBE for services to cricket. This seems to me like far too lowly an honour. Do Australians still accept honours from Her Maj, Beny? (I think the Canadians stopped a few years ago.) If so, we ought to start getting some nominations in for Richie. A knighthood seems about right to me. What do you think?

[Beny]

Sir Richie, that sounds about right. Yeah we still accept Her majesty's houners (silly old fruit bat)

[Occasional Fan]

Beny - just for my information, given a choice between (1) a nutty old German woman who lives in a big house in London which the Aussies don't have to pay for and (2) President Paul Keating (just to pick a name at random: I know he's not exactly a big cheese nowadays but he was just before your referendum), which would you rather have as Head of State?

[Beny]

Rick Ponting..

Aus have alrady had a refurendum on this a few years ago. For those who dont know what that is it is basicly a public vote to change the constitution. We decided to keep the queen. Not so much because we love the queen but rather because we dont trust the pollies to get the new form of goverment right.

BTW Paul Keating is probebly the most unpopular priminister the country has ever had. (Wasnt all that bad though as priministers are)

[Occasional Fan]

What about Sir Les Paterson?