Folks, the name of Shanaka Amarasinghe has been floated (by visitors) as a potential replacement for Ranjt Fernando. I am not aware of his skills, but apparently he's doing a good job at YES FM with the updates.
I'm told Shanaka is on air between 7pm-8pm (SL) on Friday nights.
Streamling link -- www.yesfmonline.com
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61 comments:
It will be like replacing the Portuguese with the Dutch... or as the age old Sinhalese saying goes "Kehi geni deela Hotu geni gatta wagei".... U'r going to replace an irrigating, self important man with few words with an irrigating, self important man with a lot of (irritating) words..
As excellent as this idea is I'm afraid its far too sensible to be considered by the powers that be.
Anonymous, please don’t judge Shanaka or the rest of the cricket loving SL public by your obvious lack of awareness of the game! Shanaka has a sound knowledge of cricket (and other sports) and is extremely eloquent. To even compare him to Ranjit Fernando is an insult. He is certainly on par with any international commentator. My vote is certainly for him. Why does the poll not reflect his name??
He's a fabulous all round sports commentator! His show is on Fridays on Yes FM at 7pm. Eminently suitable young candidate especially since a lot of the names mentioned in that poll are old fuddy duddies.
Also Ranjith is bringing us the worst luck. there was an earlier comment about how we've lost every match he started first innings commentary on for awhile
Take the Ranjith off for the sake of the Lankan Lions!!!!
Yes ! Shanaka will be superb. And he will have lots of fun too.
But, now, how do you propose to make this happen ?
Clearly Mr. Amarasinghe is the man for the job. He is far more interesting than any other sports commentator we have. Plus, he is bold enough to tell the foreignors to f-off when they need to be told that. He has the voice and the face for radio too. Also the man has saved starving children from the obesity and has a large penis.
Shanaka should be your man! Im a Brit who had the pleasure of living with him while he was in London studying. Many evenings where lost debating issues of huge sporting importance. Shanaka would do each and every Sri Lankan proud
Shanaka Amarasinghe...
Roshan Abeysinghe maybe a second choice.
Has Shanaka ever played International cricket? (i dont thk so?) Cos most of the commentators are former One day international or test cricketers, except for maybe that West Indian gentelman (im not sure of his name). Roshan Abe.. wats his name might be a better choice plus he did have some kind of exposure by commentating in couple of one dayers Sri Lanka was playin.
I agree on most of the stuff on this blog :D RF is such a reatard!
Ah yes...the age old 'has he played test cricket?' argument. That's a clincher that one.
Yes! Shanaka is certainly someone who can give some oomph to the sorry state of cricket commentary.
Doubtful about the big penis though...
I don't think being a player should necessarily be required. Kumar would be a fine commentator once he retires, but now the field is mighty thin. Ranjit has only played 3 ODIs anyways. Might as well get someone who can do the job.
well..i dont know about his endowment and i dont really wanna know how kakka betta got to know about it(the size of which i HIGHLY doubt)- but i would grudgingly accept that the man does know his sports..
Think the man would be a huge huge improvement from RF. You don't need experience as a player as long as you have common sense and a good understanding of the game.
I've always wondered though what people within the commentating circles think of him?
i believe the person for the job should have some experience in the field... shanaka does not know jack-all... tell him to actually get on the field an play the game.
Every word that comes out of Ranjit Farnando's mouth as a TV commentator is utter BS. To ranjit commentating amounts to ,
A . Agreeing to what his co-commentator just blabbered and repeating it
B. Stating the obvious ( i.e. SL need a wicket at this crucial moment...we all know this tell us bout the alternative ways this can be done !)
i have no experience of being a commentator but atleast i know what i want to hear , i want to hear the background of players the teams , the preparation the team goes through , about the team staff i.e. physio coach , upcoming tours , maybe some bullshit bout the local cusine and anyone who listens to radio in SL bloody well knows Shanaka is capable of making things a lot more lively.
and about not playing cricket heard of harsha bhogle ?
Why should someone commenting have experience in the field? Its a musty old tradition. the game is made more interesting by listening to people wiith the gift of the gab. Blofeld didn't play that much cricket did he?
Not every cricketer can make the game come alive with their commentary. Interesting commentary is just one of things that might save us from the monster that 20/20 might become.
Only good nomination from Ex SL players would be Ranjan Madugalla. Unfortunate for viewers/listners, and fortunate for Sri Lanka Cricket, he's got a better job to do with ICC.
My next nomination would be Saliya Ahangama. Don't even think about Eric Gouder and those old SLBC bunch. They are not going to do any better than RF. May be Ranil Abeynayake could do a better job than Ranjith.
And how about Brian Thomas? :-) (And you now I'm just kidding when I say that)
I nominate one of my past history teachers. His name was Mr Dias, he became a DJ at TNL Radio last I heard.
Don't know about his cricket knowledge but he's got the voice and the wit.
If you disagree, you can suck my balls.
Another anonymous coward. You're all anonymous cowards. I hate you all. *sobs*
-Ranjith Fernando
What is this. Go away, no asva katavaha for my son. If you think you can do better then go ahead.
Kakka betta, chikae. Laje naha ne may lamine ta.
-Mrs Fernando
Ranjiths Fernandos Mother
If "ONE" considers Ranjit to be the worst, then "ONE" has to agree that everyone else would be better than him. This should include this new fellow, whom I must say I have never heard... (I live in North America).
As for the Cricketing background being important, there are two thoughts on it. If "ONE" has basic common sense of the Game, the teams, the venue, local culture etc., then "ONE" can give an interesting commentory, without making the viewer reach for the mute button. But on the other hand when "ONE's" commentating partner is from a cricketing background, certain interesting banter will bot be there between them, as well as any opinon given by "ONE" will not be taken seriously. Then again I don't believe none of the current players commentating played together with Ranjit or for that matter, his opinion is even taken seriously by his commnetating partners!
I agree with a previous post about Ranjan Madugalle being a solid commentator. But as he'd mentioned Ranjan is flying our flag high as a Match Refree, along with Roshan Mahanama, who I belive also could have done a better job that RF. Surely there has to be some recent past cricketer who can be better than RF!
So how do we get this guy off the box? We need to first find out how he got in there in the first place. Is he being appointed by the board, the ministry or is he simply approached directly by the Networks. Once we know this, let's send them some letters and e-mails, even forward this blog, let them know how the SL cricket fans feel, and a change is needed.
Till that happens all "ONE" can do is vent "ONE's" frustration on this excellent blog!
the best part of this discussion is that Shanaka has left a comment... Lol.
Such modesty.
My votes for shanaka though...well anyone but RF. But having listened to Shanaka's rugger commentary i know that he can do a good job with any kind of sport comentating. Also the fact that he has been involved in many different sports is an added advantage.
Spare a thought for old Ranjith though. He gives SL a bad name but poor bugger he tries his best.
Well such are the demands of fame.
How was any comment immodest NM? Pointing out a flawed argument is hardly presumtuous is it not?
Blogger...profanity is part of the charm of blogs. What's with this 'get thee to a nunnery approach'?
Shanaka will definitely do a better job than Ranjith Fernando. For that matter anyone will. You could replace Ranjith Fernando with the 'Sound of Silence' and it'll be better.
I'm with the previous poster though, these TV companies tend to go for past cricketers as their commentators. Roshan Abeysinghe is actually the best guy we can put forward because I think he played first class cricket at least.
It might be worth sending Shanaka to play for Bermuda, and then get him to retire after one game and become a commentator for SL saying he has played international cricket!
Why can't I be a commentatorer... I like chocolotes and teddy bears and I can talk about cricket... also Ranjan Aiya said I can do it... I have commentatered on channele iye about cricket, this shanaka pissu fellow has not dun it
Shanaka would be a great commentator for sure... if only he could resist the urge to tell the Aussies to go f#$k themselves...
Previous experience as a commentator has nothing to do with analyzing the game so the question is him just catching a break
Shanka has not done any sports in his life apart from Swimming. Just because he has a good voice it does not mean that he can replace .......
You people are mad Shanaka has only a big mouth...... no value in it....
I will send either Basil or Gotabaya to sort this out.....
here! just put shanaka's name on that voting list.
then lets see.
This bugger Shanaka .... Has he even played soft ball cricket?? Or even Hand BAll!!!!!!
It's not worth putting that name on any list. I will decide.
There are many other good commentetors in Sri Lanka, who are actual past cricketers, Please consider them. Why not Arjuna?? Who is this bugger Shanaka!!! Is it worth talking about some man who has a good voice apparently but has no knowledge on cricket.
perhaps a one-on one commentating session/kinda faceoff where shanka and ranjith go against each other( e.g like freestyling rappers who confront each other on stage-dont rememeber the exact term for that)could further decern the fact why ranjith should be dropped and shanaka be taken in. A recording of this can be forwarded to Slcricket so the said pressing issues could be addressed. what do you think folks?
Whoever the bloody moron who said that Shanaka hasn't done any sports other than swimming must have spent quite a bit of time getting his/ her head from out of his posterior.
I'm sure shanaka will be better able to elaborate than I.
Shanaka, was not being sarcastic in a bad way... Just a comment that struck me at the time mainly because i found it hilarious that you were part of this discussion probably without the knowledge of some.
Regards,
I think Shanaka is a fantastic option. He is one the most eloquent people i know. He has a fantastic knowledge of sports not just cricket. And one thing i like about his show is he doesn’t try to pound in his opinion alone. He says what he has to and leaves it to the listener to form there own conclusions.
Best of Luck to you Shanaka.
Cheers!
Shanaka knows his rugby and his soccer but sadly he knows nothing about cricket. He steals all his cricket knowledge from his friends, and then puts it all together and makes it sound all professional. While he has the style, he does not have the in depth knowledge of the game of cricket that would qualify him for this position.
And please, the boy has not played respectable cricket of any sort. I don't think that only people who's played for national teams should be commentators, but they should have at least swung the willow at something once in their lives.
"Anonymous said...
This bugger Shanaka .... Has he even played soft ball cricket?? Or even Hand BAll!!!!!!"
That's ridiculous... if there's one sport that Shanaka is an absolute pro at it's Hand Ball. He's dedicated the majority of his life to finely honing his Hand Ball skills and trains relentlessly. He's so dedicated that he has even lost skin playing hand ball and he's got the scar to prove it...
Either way it's not essential to have played the sport to be a good commentator... case in point - most golf commentators aren't ex-golfers and the F1 commentry team have never raced professionally... All they have is a great knowledge of the sport and heaps of enthusiasm, coupled of course with decent presentation skills.
Frankly, Shanaka would make a better than Ranil Abeynayake or even Saliya as despite their extensive cricketing knowledge, they have poor presentation skills* (*voices boring enough to make watching paint dry seem like a fun thing to do).
Yes Shanaka does a good job on the YEs FM updates and his show is fairly good but his knowledge of the sport does seem limited in comparison to the other really good international cricket commentators.
It's just not a serious option. ]
We need someone who has played cricket or at least, knows the sport in real depth. Anyone who's heard Charlie Austin's commentaries will surely agree that he's just the best we have here? He may be white but he's a lot more of a Sri Lankan than most of us are!
And anyway - how do you lot propose to effect this change?
We have to wait untill Kumar Sangakkara or Mahela Jayawardena retires to find a quality commentator,I was recently talking to a former SL cricketer and now head of marketing in an insurance company,who commented that the international mindset has been set to "Ranjith Fernando" when SL is mentioned,and they are also laughing the same way we do on the rubbish we talk.
So it has to be a cricketer who has palyed international cricket as Roshan Abeysinghe or Ranil Abenayake will not work on an international perseptive.Aravinda is technicaly good but the problem lies with his voice.
That Coca Cola ad with mahela and Sanga could be relaunched with Ranjit and Brian Thomas. Snuggling up and watching the match featuring new commentators and sportscasters, primarily Shanaka. And they could be interrupted by Navjot - the latest Domino's pizza delivery guy who delivery charges are rise like an "indian taxi meter."
It is overwhelmingly clear that Ranjith Fernando is the worse cricket commentator to call the game internationally.
As a person with years of experience in dealing with the Suddas in Sri Lanka, I am well aware of the antics resorted by them to manifest their condescension and assert their ‘cultural superiority’. So I fully agree with RajaMaru, who has made this terrifc observation on 9th April -“What if the Sudda asks for Ranjit so that they can laugh at him and make a mockery of our country... After all, our players are beating the rest of the world on the cricket field, so this could be their way of getting back at us”
I too firmly believe that one of the ulterior motives why they stick to Fernando is to take the piss out of us. Whilst our cricketing heroes are making the country proud by their on field heroics, Ranjith Fernando has been doing his moronic best to reverse this and at times ‘ONE’ wonders whether ‘ONE’ is a secret agent of Pottu!
My only choice of replacement is Siddath Wettimuny and here is why
a.He has got shitloads of cred as a cricketer.
b.His English is good. His presentation skills will only improve with more exposure.
c.He has played cricket with some of the present international commentators unlike the fossil that is Fernando.
d.He’s got the looks. (apparently quite boneable according to the girls – a FILF!)
e.He is got the charisma and a tremendous personality.
f.I believe he possesses far greater knowledge of the country, very important when ‘ONE’ is representing ‘ONE’s country.
g.As the years go by he will get enough grey hair to rival Benaud.
Well to be perfectly honest, he will not be a Benaud overnight and as a man of simplicity, neither will he be too fussy about donning the cream, the bone, the white, the off-white, the ivory or the beige jackets. However, he will in my reckoning, be the best alternative until Sanga retires in 2015 ending his illustrious career at the age of 38 (considering general age of retirement for Sri Lankan cricketers nowadays!).
The evolution of an island’s cricket from its modest beginnings until we became the world champions in 1996 and beyond largely owes to the giants of yesteryear who have rendered an invaluable service to the game with minimum fuss, facilities and funds. Ranjith Fernando as a cricketer who has represented the country in these early stages of evolution should be commended for that.
However, for the problem in hand - representing Sri Lanka as a cricket commentator ‘ONE’ has to have special attributes, most of which are sadly missing in Fernando.
So, it is time for Networks to open their eyes to these glaring realities pointed out so bluntly in many a forum including in RanjithFernandoSucks and bone him!
NO, we don’t need a Disk Jokey to replace Fernando.
NO, we don’t need an indigenized Sudda either.
Are you out of your minds?
If all fails, we might as well send Brian Thomas to Channel 9, Stralia for a crash course and perhaps a nose job and see how the bloke comes along!
Tiny clarification. Shanaka is not a 'disc jockey'.
NH from Japan you are obviously a 12th man fan. Could you possibly tell me how to get the compilation of his stuff? It's bloody awesome and I haven't heard it for years.
Yes. Sidath Wettimuny. Seconded.
Chocko-Rocko I tend to agree with you to an extent. Y is it necessary that one has to have played a sport to gv gd commentries. Harsha Bhogle is the Perfect example!!
Anyone who has listened to Shanaka's sports reports will agree that he has a sound knowledge abt cricket and that he is a fabulous entertainer and the few minutes he comes on air so many tune into Yes FM just for his updates.
I wouldn't necessarily say he is the best....there are quite a few veterans such as Ranil Abenayake, Sidhath Wettamuny, Saliya Ahangama etc....but none of them would be able to match Shanaka's unique and engaging stlye.
he's certainly my favourite.
As for RF....he's probably doing his best. y bash him...he won't be doing this much longer & why does it hv to be one or the other....?? Shanaka could be brought in whilst RF is stilll there.
Here is our honest opinion, Sure Shanaka Amarasinghe does good at Yes FM, and yes Ranjith Fernando is a joke, but there is a GOOD reason that some people are contained to radio.
If you take someone like Chevan Daniels they moved him from radio to television in no time because he is a presentable individual. Shanaka and Chevan both have nice pitched voices and has "good carry" as Ranjith would have said, and THAT’S ALL that matters on radio. But on television it is a COMPLETE different ball game.
Shanaka would make Ranjith would look like Sharukh Khan and that is a harsh comment but it’s the reality, At least Ranjith the joker has played Cricket for Sri Lanka. Shanaka should stick to radio, no offence and we are sure he will excel there. Roshan Abeysinghe or Saliya Ahangama should take over from Ranjith.
Shanaka is really good sportsman in a number of sports like Rugby,Waterpolo,Swimming,Basketball etc... But to be an international cricket commentator he has to have played at the highest level.Only then he can give expert comments about the pitch,mental toughness of the players, what tactics to use for the benefit of the viewers to make them feel and understand what exactly is happening in the middle.Unless you have played at the highest level you will become someone like Mark Nicholas or Harsha Bogle who are the opening acts for the big boys like Ian Smith,Holding,Bishop and Company.
As far as SL is concerned ex-guys like Ravi Ratnayake or Gurusinghe may be able to perform well if they are available.
Out of the present lot except for Sanga and Mahela, I think Marvan and Russell Arnold are capable with a bit of training to hold their own in the English Language.
there's a huge difference between giving the daily cricketing round up and actually giving insightful commentary on a live game.
I know Shanaka Amarasinghe to be a well spoken yet highly narcissistic chap. His command of the language is strong and he will in no doubt stand up to any Yorker pitched at him by a foreign counterpart. The problem is that he has to have played the game at the highest level to understand the intricacies of players, pitches, history of the game and in-depth knowledge of just about everything that is cricket. Sorry old chap, you’re a good man but not ONE for this job.
I think the problem here is that everyone is getting far too technical. Look at it from the average cricket enthusiast's point of view - from my 89 year old grandmother (who very devotedly and unfailingly prays the rosary everytime SL plays whilst sipping wine to calm her nerves, and who is incidentally not above cursing the opposing team when things are not going our way)to my 13 year old brother, all we want is an intelligent and witty commentator that can tell us how it is and not shame us in front of the international cricketing community - we frankly don't give a damn whether he's played international cricket or not. From what I know of Shanaka, he's fully capable of insightful commentary on a live game and that's all that matters really. And the thing is, Shanaka has PERSONALITY - the man entertains with intelligence. Who cares if he's a narcissist?? And who cares if he has the face for Radio? Let's face it, Tony Greig doesn't exactly ooze with sex appeal. Cricket commentating by SL'ans is in vital need of some viagra and Amarasinghe seems just the one to give us that much needed raise in the eyes of the international community.
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