Rob Houwing's Tops on the Telly TV sport column

I’ve finally decided that Shane Warne’s twangy Victorian accent is so acute – almost as acute as his turn on a ball -- that I actually like it.
Nobody, after all, could accuse the heart-on-sleeve Warney of ever trying to be anything but himself!

And with that former “hurdle” no longer an issue for me, I have been able to focus squarely on the quality of his cricket commentary for Sky Sports (and by extension SuperSport very often) in his second year behind the mike.

The leg-spinning great, quite frankly, is a marvellous asset to the trade, bringing true superstar appeal to an already impressive list of commentators that includes David Lloyd, Michael Holding, Mike Atherton and Nasser Hussain at the top of my most favoured pile.

I’ve listened to Warne a few times during the current English summer – in case you didn’t know, you can catch him on SS2 this weekend during the England v Pakistan second Test at Edgbaston – and his sheer, “big” personality is accompanied by great technical insight into the game.

He is especially good at predicting which bowlers a particular batsman might struggle against, and on several occasions has been proved dead right upon fall of the relevant wicket.

There has, of course, always been a very good captain lurking in Warne, even if his own international aspirations in that regard were mostly thwarted by the respective reigns of Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and later the incumbent, Ricky Ponting.

That quality clearly aids his commentary-booth analysis even further – Ian Chappell once said that Warne would have made a great national captain, partly because “he makes the game exciting for his team-mates, which is part of the secret”.

In inimitable SK Warne style, he missed out on debuting for Sky in the first Ashes Test at Cardiff last year because of a poker competition engagement in Las Vegas.

But when he eventually did, fittingly at hallowed Lord’s, David Gower, standing alongside him in the TV build-up to the game, felt moved to say by way of introduction: “It must be a big occasion, because we’re also blessed with greatness.”

Quite …

Rob’s awesome foursome:

1. New Zealand v Australia, Vodacom Tri-Nations rugby
Christchurch, Saturday 09:35, M-Net, CSN & SS1
Are the Wallabies capable of launching a fearsome backlash? And can they do it on New Zealand soil after the 49-28 humbling in Melbourne? Anything is possible in the Tri-Nations (just look how swiftly the broader balance of power has shifted) but it remains desperately hard to envisage an Australian turnaround here. Indeed, their best scenario would seem to be a much closer defeat, keeping the title race alive to a minor degree even if we all pretty much know which cabinet the trophy’s destined for, don’t we? My tip is the All Blacks by nine, with some morsels of respect and future hope for Rocky Elsom and company.

2. Telkom Charity Cup soccer
Johannesburg, Saturday from 10:00 (1st semi), SABC1, SS4 & SS HD
Feel it, it is here. Er, if no longer the FIFA World Cup, then at least the local Charity Cup! The traditional all-day, three-match pipe-opener to the PSL season (two semi-finals and a final) will be played before a packed house at Soccer City, which is an encouraging development in itself. AmaZulu and Orlando Pirates have the advantage of the longer break ahead of the showpiece fixture – they play at 10:00, followed by Kaizer Chiefs against Mamelodi Sundowns at noon. The winners lock horns at 17:00. The venue ought to be buzzing again on Wednesday, for the Bafana v Ghana glamour friendly. Laduma coverage (SABC 1) begins at 20:30 then.

3. Griquas v Western Province, Absa Currie Cup rugby
Kimberley, Saturday 15:00, M-Net & SS1
Again the “daylight” game eclipses the 17:05 one (Sharks v Lions) for importance and appeal, by my book. It features the log leaders, unbeaten Province, against third-placed Griquas who have once more punched spiritedly above their weight in early season. The fact that it is in Kimberley only adds to the appeal, as does the fact that the hosts have squeezed in by a point in each of the two previous meetings in the city. Will WP break their Big Hole rot? Looking at their line-up, I do fancy so … maybe even by 10 points or thereabouts.

4. Chelsea v Manchester United, Community Shield soccer
London, Sunday 16:00, SS3, SS HD & Maximo
Yes, it’s that time of the year … the Wembley outing marking a week to the start of the Premiership season “proper”. With the Blues having done the double of league and FA Cup honours in the last campaign, Manchester United are invited to the party courtesy of their runners-up spot in the Premiership. Exactly the same foes met up in the 2009 game, with Chelsea clinching it 4-1 on penalties after a 2-2 outcome in regular time. (Messrs Giggs and Evra botched their bids from the spot as the Blues rammed home all of their first four in the shootout.)