After controversy, Sony opts to black out Kerry O'Keeffe's commentary in Sydney Test

Sydney: Australian cricketer-turned-commentator Kerry O’Keeffe has reportedly been blacked out by Indian broadcaster Sony Pictures Networks for the ongoing fourth Test in Sydney. The former Aussie bowler who is part of the commentary panel for Fox Cricket in Australia, irked many Indian fans during the first Test in Melbourne after he took a jibe at Mayank Agarwal’s domestic career.

The former spinner was quoted as saying that Agarwal's maiden first-class triple-century came against "Railways canteen staff". But after receiving huge backlash online, Sony has opted against using the commentary feed from Fox Cricket when 69-year-old is on air, according to a report by the Mumbai Mirror.

The commentary works like this: Sony Pictures Networks uses 30 minutes of its own commentary from studios in Malad, Mumbai and then switches to the feed Down Under. But that won’t be happening anymore when O’Keeffe is on air.

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The whole controversy all started on the first day of the match when O'Keefe, a mediocre leg-spinner, with a modest record of 53 wickets in 24 Tests, made a crass comment about debutant Mayank Agarwal's first-class triple-hundred against Railways.

"Apparently, he got the triple (ton) against the Railways canteen staff," O'Keefe said while commentating for Fox Sports while Mark Waugh spoke about how a domestic average of 50 in India will be 40 in Australia.

O'Keefe later apologised for his unsavoury comment.

"I was mentioning the runs Agarwal got in first-class cricket in India and there's been a reaction. There was no way I was demeaning the standard, it was tongue in cheek. There are lots of runs scored, so apologies if anyone out there took offence," he said.

It was India coach Ravi Shastri, not the one to pull back punches, rubbed it in after Agarwal scored 76 on his debut.

"He (Mayank) has got a message for Kerry 'when you do open your canteen, he wants to come and smell the coffee. He wants to compare it to the ones back in India coffee here's better or the ones back home'," Shastri commented during an interview with Fox Sports, with O'Keefe also on air at that point of time.

However, O'Keefe was at it again on the fourth day when he again made fun of not being able to pronounce the first names of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja.

"Why would you name your kid Cheteshwar Jadeja," O'Keefe commented.

Earlier, India's bowling coach Bharat Arun on Saturday had made it clear that the team wasn't happy with these kind of comments.

"Yes, it does hurt you but when people make those remarks, there is nothing you can do about it. It's beyond your control. If you can channelise that hurt towards doing better on the field that answers all the questions," Arun had said.