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Ian Thorpe, Steve Hooker and Cadel Evans are among the household names set to provide expert analysis as members of Nine’s broadcast team for the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.

The legendary Australian swimmer, pole vaulter and cyclist were among the expert commentators revealed by Nine on Wednesday evening, just under a year out from Paris 2024.

Nine’s initial cast of 18 expert commentators combine for a massive haul of Olympic and Paralympic gold medals, world titles and world records, as well as revered work behind the microphone and on TV.

They will form part of Nine’s broadcast team as viewers enjoy a smorgasbord of 32 sports and 329 events.

Leading Nine’s coverage will be many of Australia’s top TV presenters, including Karl Stefanovic, Sarah Abo, Eddie McGuire and James Bracey.

9News will also have a strong presence in Paris, led by Roz Kelly and Tony Jones, bringing viewers breaking news and the 6pm (AEST) bulletins.

Nine’s broadcast team will bring the Olympics and Paralympics to Australian viewers from the centre of Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Meanwhile, Nine has also extended its relationship with Swimming Australia as the home of swimming.

The World Aquatics Championships in Doha in February, as well as the Australian Championships in April, and the Olympic and Paralympic trials in June, will all be broadcast live and free on Nine.

Nine’s expert commentators

  • Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe, swimming expert
  • Olympic gold medallist Giaan Rooney, swimming expert
  • Australia’s most successful female Paralympian, Ellie Cole, swimming expert and Paralympic host
  • Olympic gold medallist Steve Hooker, athletics expert
  • Dual Olympian Dave Culbert, Olympics and Paralympics commentator
  • Five-time Olympian and Australian Olympic flag-bearer Andrew Gaze, basketball expert
  • Olympic gold medallist Scott McGrory, cycling commentator
  • The voice of cycling, Phil Liggett
  • Dual Olympian Kate Bates, cycling expert
  • Tour de France winner and four-time Olympian Cadel Evans AM, cycling expert
  • Wallabies great Drew Mitchell, rugby sevens expert
  • Wallaroos star, Sera Naiqama, rugby sevens expert
  • Six-time Olympian, triple gold medallist and Australian team flag-bearer James Tomkins, rowing expert
  • Olympic gold medallist Kerri Pottharst OAM, beach volleyball expert
  • Olympian and Hockeyroos great Georgie Parker, field hockey expert
  • Dual Olympian and multiple world champion Caroline Buchanan, BMX racing expert
  • Nitro Circus star and five-time X Games BMX gold medallist Ryan Williams, BMX freestyle expert
  • Mitch Tomlinson, skateboard and BMX freestyle commentator

Australia’s former one-day international and T20 captain Aaron Finch has joined Nine’s commentary line-up for its coverage of the upcoming Ashes series.

Finch, who retired from international cricket in February having played five Tests, 146 ODIs and 103 T20s joins Wide World of Sports regulars Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Callum Ferguson and Steve O’Keefe to call the action of one of the most tantalising series in years, with England employing its ‘Bazball’ philosophy to sweep aside all comers since a humiliating 4-0 defeat in a COVID-affected tour of Australia in 2021/22.

While Australia has been dominant at home, it’s been a miserable story as Ashes tourists over the last two decades, with Australia last tasting a series victory in England under Steve Waugh‘s captaincy in 2001.

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The closest they’ve come to a series win as tourists since then was in 2019, with Tim Paine’s men taking a 2-1 lead by winning the fourth Test. They lost the fifth Test by 135 runs to draw the series 2-2.

Having retained the Ashes by drawing that series, Australia have now been the holders since 2017, with England desperate to break the drought.

It looms as a mouthwatering contest, with Pat Cummins leading the No.1 team in the world and England in the midst of a resurgence under the captaincy of Ben Stokes and the coaching of Brendon McCullum.

The men’s Ashes series starts on June 16 and will be broadcast exclusive, live and free on the 9Network and 9Now, hosted by Roz Kelly.

Nine will also broadcast the women’s Ashes series that follows, starting on Thursday June 22, with Australia’s all-conquering women’s team competing for the trophy across Test, ODI and T20 formats.

Mark Taylor will be at the ground for all five Tests of that series and will be joined by presenter Louise Ransome, while back home in the studio host Emma Lawrence will be joined by Australian former internationals Rachael Haynes and Eylse Villani.

Warner not guaranteed Ashes spot

Nine’s Director of Sport, Brent Williams, said: “The Ashes: two simple words that represent so much in our nation’s sporting history, with famous moments, legendary players and unforgettable battles.

“An Ashes series never fails to deliver, and Wide World of Sports is proud to be right at the heart of it with our exclusive broadcast of both the men’s and women’s Ashes on Channel 9HD and 9Now.”

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One of the most recognised voices in British football commentary won’t be heard again at World Cup 2022 (opens in new tab) after Clive Tyldesley revealed he’s heading home from Qatar. 

Tyldesley is a stalwart of football coverage in the UK, but he’s no longer the number one man behind the microphone for ITV, with Sam Matterface now holding that role.



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