Alternative Commentary Collective to Become a Multi-media Sports Juggernaut
8 March 2018 – The Alternative Commentary Collective have surprised everyone, most of all themselves, by being given the green light
(or should that be yellow button) to provide an alternative audio option for SKY Sport’s coverage of the Pink Ball Test
commencing on March 22 between the Blackcaps and England.
Contrary to popular belief, a Pink Ball Test uses a pink ball for better visibility in afternoon and evening matches and
have proved massively popular in Australia and England.
The ACC team for Pink Ball Test will consist of Radio Hauraki’s Jeremy Wells, Mike Lane and Matt Heath, and Paul Ford,
Scotty J Stevenson, James McOnie and Lee Baker.
The group of men dressed in suit jackets and unreasonably small shorts will cram themselves into “Botham’s Box” (a box
especially built for the cricketing legend) at Eden Park, for the pure entertainment pleasure of SKY Sport viewers, iHeartRadio listeners, social media fans and the Radio Hauraki faithful.
ACC member, Jeremy Wells says: “The ACC is now the biggest multi-platform sports broadcaster in New Zealand. Welcoming
SKY Sports into the fold will see us on digital radio (iHeartRadio), traditional radio (Radio Hauraki), on TV (SKY)and
live streaming on social media (Facebook Live)…terrifying”
Collectively, the group seem to have a sporting record that excels beyond their cricketing analysis.
Jeremy Wells is a schoolboy cricketer notorious for spending more time on a pitch roller than in the nets. Mike Lane’s
career highlight is batting in a representative tournament with a Mickey Mouse hat on. Matt Heath won’t stop talking
about scoring 106 not out against his 10 year old son. The Basin Reserve took out a trespass order against Paul Ford.
James McOnie spent his high school years fielding for Shane Thompson in the Hamilton Boys High First XI, and Scotty J
Stevenson would rather be calling Super Rugby but is contractually obliged to be involved. Sport Hall of Fame inductions
are expected any day now.
Lee Baker is the only member of the ACC who actually plays club cricket.
Mike Lane, ACC Chief Wrangler and Hauraki Head when he feels like it, says they’re happy the agreement was over the line
before yesterday’s commentary of the Dunedin ODI.
“The Pink Ball Test is a momentous occasion, and we’re happy to rise to the occasion in the best way we know how – with
unwavering patriotism with a hefty side of the surreal”
To access the alternative audio option, press the yellow button on your SKY remote, from there you will see an audio
language box, press up on your remote to access English Alt. Alternatively, you can listen on iHeartRadio.
SKY have advised the Alternative Commentary Collective audio is rated R16. While ratings are not required under the Code of Broadcasting Standards for sports coverage, due to the fact the ACC
team are physically unable to speak for more than five minutes without innuendo, the audio is not appropriate for most
people, let alone those under 16 years.
The Pink Ball Test is on SKY Sport 3, March 22-26 from 1.30pm. For those without a SKY subscription, the ACC commentary
is also available via streaming on iHeartRadio, and will be live streaming videos throughout the test on the ACC Facebook page.
ENDS