Cricket Commentators Salary: How Much They Each Earn
|Cricket fans know that the commentators play a pivotal role in the viewing experience, bringing the game to life with their insightful analysis, captivating storytelling, and unique perspectives. But beyond their voices and expertise lies an often unexplored aspect of their profession – their earnings. In this guide, we dive into the financial side of cricket commentary, detailing the salaries of these essential figures in the cricket broadcasting world.
From seasoned veterans known for their in-depth game knowledge to charismatic newcomers adding fresh energy to the commentary box, we explore the range of earnings across this diverse field.
Cricket Commentators Salary
Commentators | Broadcaster | Fee Per match | Fee Per series | Annual Salary |
Sanjay Manjrekar | ESPN Star Sports | $2,500 | $55,810 | $1 million |
Harsha Bhogle | ESPN Star Sports & ABC | $2,500 | $50,000 | $1 million |
Sunil Gavaskar | ESPN Star Sports | $2,500 | $50,000 | $1 million |
Sourav Ganguly | ESPN Star Sports | $2,500 | $50,000 | $1 million |
Shane Warne | Sky Sports, N ESPN Star Sports | $2,000 | $58,000 | $1 million |
Ian Bishop | Sky Sports | $2,000 | $52,000 | $900,000 |
Mark Nichola | Sky Sports | $4000 | $50,000 | $850,000 |
Geoffrey Boycott | Sky Sports | $4000 | $50,000 | $850,000 |
Michael Vaughan | Sky Sports | $4000 | $50,000 | $850,000 |
Ian Botham | Sky Sports | $4000 | $50,000 | $850,000 |
Mike Atherton | Sky Sports | $4000 | $50,000 | $850,000 |
Alan Wilkins | Sky Sports | $4000 | $50,000 | $850,000 |
David Lloyd | Sky Sports | $4000 | $50,000 | $850,000 |
Ian Chappell | ESPN Star Sports | $2,500 | $40,000 | $700,000 |
Mike Haysman | TEN Sports | $1,000 | $45,000 | $700,000 |
Russel Arnold | TEN Sports | $1,500 | $45,000 | $700,000 |
Waqar Younis | TEN Sports | $1,500 | $45,000 | $700,000 |
Rameez Raja | TEN Sports | $2,200 | $45,000 | $700,000 |
Waseem Akram | ESPN Star Sports | $1,500 | $35,000 | $600,000 |
Mark Richardson | Sky Sport | $1,500 | $30,000 | $560,000 |
Pommie Mbangwa | TEN Sports | $1,000 | $40,000 | $500,000 |
Shaun Pollock | SuperSport | $1,500 | $30,000 | $400,000 |
Athar Ali Khan | Independent Television | $1,000 | $15,000 | $350,000 |
The world of cricket commentary is predominantly populated by former international cricketers, with notable figures such as Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar from the Indian cricket team, and Shane Warne, who played for Cricket Australia. Currently, Warne is a commentator for Sky Sports and stands out as one of the highest-paid commentators, earning a match fee of $2,000.
In the upper echelon of cricket commentary earnings, approximately five commentators receive annual salaries of $1 million, while others earn less than this amount. Specifically, Sky Sports commentators are compensated with a match fee of $4,000, and their annual salaries typically hover around $850,000, with Ian Bishop being an exception, earning $900,000 per year.
In contrast, local commentators generally receive lower compensation than their international counterparts, with annual earnings capped at around $350,000. The fees for league and club matches are also lower compared to international cricket. However, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is an exception, offering remuneration comparable to international cricket standards for its commentators.