AUS commentator ridicules Indian domestic cricket; gets trolled mercilessly

Former Aussie cricketer and commentator Kerry O’Keefe was trolled mercilessly on Twitter for ridiculing India’s domestic cricket tournament Ranji Trophy. O’Keefe made these comments during live commentary and he later issued an apology for his statements.

Agarwal’s triple hundred came against Railway canteen staff: O’Keefe 

The incident happened on day one of the Boxing Day Test. The commentators were discussing Mayank Agarwal’s domestic record when O’Keefe commented that apparently, the Indian opener got the triple against the Railways canteen staff.

He also joked about a kitchen hand opening the bowling. His colleague in the commentary box, Mark Waugh stated that Agarwal’s average in India is 50 which like 40 in Australia.

Indian fans troll The Aussie commentator, accuse him of racism

As expected, the Aussie commentator’s remarks didn’t go well with Indian fans. They were annoyed with his remarks and vented out their disappointment on Twitter. In fact fans from other countries too found O’Keefe’s remarks arrogant.

#MayankAgarwal
KerryOKeefe Carrier

26 Matches
55 International Wicket
1418 International Runs

Idiot stats look like Canteen All rounder

Mayank scored fifty on debut & OKeefe scored one fifty in 24 Test match??#AUSvIND #BoxingDayTest pic.twitter.com/ciG6oim6yN

— ʀɪsʜᴀʙʜ sɪɴɢʜ (@Rishabh_Smarty8) December 26, 2018

His full name is Kerry O Keefe He is a old man who is a commentator he absuses the oppositions I guess he is a part of Fox sports commentary I guess he was a ex Aussie cricketer

— Professor Salva ? (@professsorsalva) December 26, 2018

Kerry O Keefe who ??? #AUSvIND

— Shantanu Anil Shinde (@shan_gooner) December 26, 2018

https://twitter.com/raoullakhe/status/1077947603755696130

Guys like #kerryokeefe are the reason why the world loves to hate Australian cricket #AUSvIND https://t.co/oPuFNfButn

— Aatma NirbharJohnnyBoy (@JohnnyBuoooy) December 26, 2018

Fox cricket commentators Mark Waugh mentioning that 50 average in India is like 40. Kerry O' Keefe saying that Mayank Aggarwal scored 300 against some canteen people & waiters ,that is just disrespectful @mhussey393 @gilly381 @bhogleharsha @FoxCricket @isaguha @melindafarrell

— Ash (@Ayadav1808) December 26, 2018

It might just be me, but it's pretty uncool to ridicule the FC comp of another country while using dubious stereotypes for a cheap laugh…

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 26, 2018

This was really stupid from Kerry O Keefe….https://t.co/E6UrM7g5P7

— ABHIJIT NAIR ??? (@Rahul_bill) December 26, 2018

Mayank Agarwal has given a fitting reply to him and Kerry O Keefe who were ridiculing Indian domestic circuit as consisting of "Canteen XIs". They tried to undermine Agarwal's credentials too. More than Waugh, it was O Keefe who was offensive & borderline racist #AUSvsIND https://t.co/dVywAAA9eG

— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) December 26, 2018

Who is this Kerry O' keefe @BCCI make sure this is his last commentary stint, let him know his place. #ausvind #racism

— Amandeep Bedi (@amandeepsbedi) December 26, 2018

After receiving the backlash on Twitter, the former Aussie cricketer has issued an apology for the remarks he made.

He made it clear that he was mentioning the runs Agarwal got in first-class cricket in India and there’s been a reaction.

He made it clear that there was no way he was demeaning the standard, it was tongue in cheek. There are lots of runs scored so he apologies if anyone out there took offense.

Who is Kerry O’Keefe?

A leg-spinner with batting abilities, Kerry O’ Keefe featured in 24 Tests for Australia. He claimed 53 wickets in 40 Test innings at an average of 38.07 and had a strike rate of 101.5.

Also read: AUS cricketer booed at MCG

With the bat, he scored 644 runs in 34 innings and has one half-century to his name. He averages 25.76 with the bat.

After retiring from cricket, he ventured into journalism and is also working as a television commentator.