2 hours ago
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Cricket traditionalists have taken to social media to complain about the antics of Channel Seven commentator James Brayshaw, while others have praised his rock 'n' roll brand of calling by labelling it 'sporting theatre'.
As Australia crushed England in the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium in Perth on Friday and Saturday, Brayshaw commentated for both Seven and radio station Triple M.
It didn't take long for the comments to start flowing, with Brayshaw going ballistic when Australian seamer Mitch Starc bowled England opener Zak Crawley for a duck in the first over of the game.
'Edged and gone!' Brayshaw roared.
'Khawaja has pouched it and Crawley's gone! Starc hits out again and mayhem has happened at Optus Stadium. One for none.'
Bemused Aussie cricket great and fellow commentator Mark Waugh watched on as Brayshaw screamed, before adding his more subdued take on the wicket.
Cricket fans were divided by Channel Seven and Triple M star James Brayshaw's antics during the first Ashes Test
Some fans took to social media to call for the star commentator (pictured left, with fellow caller and former cricket star Greg Blewett) to tone it down during the iconic series
All-time England great Ian 'Beefy' Botham (top right) had a chuckle in the background as Brayshaw went ballistic
'He couldn't help himself, Zak Crawley,' Waugh said.
'The last ball of the over, he hadn't got off the mark, he drives on the up and Khawaja takes a sharp chance at first slip.'
'Go on, you Aussies,' Greg Blewett added.
Brayshaw then bellowed back into the action: 'What about Mitch Starc? You bloody genius!'
'A first-over wicket-taking machine, Crawley's got to go, one for none, what the bloody hell?'
Some fans loved the exchange, and even Ian 'Beefy' Botham had a chuckle in the background.
'James Brayshaw turns every crunch moment into pure sporting theatre, hitting the call with such explosive energy that it feels like cricket’s own main-event showdown,' one fan said on X.
Brayshaw (pictured with his wife Lisa) is the big-name AFL and cricket commentator at Channel Seven
Brayshaw's histrionics went to the next level as Mitch Starc (pictured) turned in a career-best Ashes performance in the first Test
Another explosive moment came when former skipper Joe Root was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, continuing his long-running struggles in Australia.
'Knocked him over!' Brayshaw screamed at the top of his lungs when Starc made the breakthrough.
'Inside edge, castle gone, Root's out, Australia is back in it! What the hell.'
This time it was former Aussie Test captain Mark Taylor sitting beside him, and he could only laugh at Brayshaw's antics.
'JB going the full WWE Commentary and I love it,' one fan commented on social media.
'That's peak cricket! Broadcasting level unmatched,' another posted.
But plenty of others frowned on his antics, saying they went against the spirit of Ashes Test cricket.
'Cricket commentary for The Ashes used to be a calm, classy thing. Till commentators began shouting and screaming as if electricity had been cut off to their [mics],' one posted.
'You can't tell me people genuinely tune into MMM just to listen to James Brayshaw commentate the cricket? We've got it on in the background at work and it is beyond unbearable,' another fumed.
Another added: 'Jingoistic and embarrassing. Not professional at all.'
While fans are divided, the networks are not when it comes to Brayshaw.
It has been reported he pockets up to $1.5million every year across Channel Seven and Triple M.
He has also been the highest-earning AFL commentator for five years running.
