Alternative Commentary Collective: Comedian in hot water with ICC over drinks appearance

Leigh Hart, far left, as part of the Alternative Commentary Collective.

An incident involving a member of a cricket commentary team during yesterday's World Cup match in Napier is under investigation by the International Cricket Council.

At a drinks break during an innings in New Zealand's win over Afghanistan, Leigh Hart accompanied the drinks trolley out to the middle of McLean Park.

Whether Hart spoke to either players or the umpires on the park during the second drinks break of Afghanistan's innings, or recorded any conversations, is part of an ICC check on the incident.

Leigh Hart confirmed that he entered the ground during the drinks break and that it was part of a promotion for Gatorade.

"The ICC is aware of the incident and is looking into the circumstances which led to this," an ICC spokesman told the Herald.

Hart confirmed to the Herald that he entered the ground during the drinks break and that it was part of a promotion for Gatorade.

"It was part of a promotional thing done by Gatorade, where they asked us to be on the drinks trolly. One of us was selected and it was me," he said.

He did not wish to comment further.

The ACC are understood to be perplexed by the controversy, saying they were invited into the drinks trolley by tournament sponsors Gatorade, part of the Pepsi Cola group.

Hart's credentials were given to the ICC and ground operators the day before the match. Gatorade had been trying to get the ACC on to the trolley in other matches, but early finishes had prevented this from happening.

Hart was even announced on to the ground over the tannoy.

Once on the ground, Hart removed the chilly bin from his lap then stood on the ground beside the cart. The umpires, Johan Cloete and Marais Erasmus, commented on Hart's attire and they engaged in small talk for a matter of seconds. As drinks was wrapping up, Grant Elliott wandered past and asked Hart how he was going and he replied. None of the conversations were recorded, but the ICC are investigating whether this breached protocols.

A statement on the Alternative Commentary Collective Facebook page said: "For the record - there was no breach of protocol here. Leigh did exactly what was asked of him by operations officials - it was so innocuous it's boring."

The ICC carefully guards who is permitted to enter the playing arena during a match, partly on security grounds and partly as a protocol.

An ICC spokesman told the Herald: "An individual went outside the agreed boundaries of an activation and appropriate action has been taken."

The ACC has provided a distinctly different style of commentary on the New Zealand international summer from the more formal Radio Sport.