Paris Olympics: Cricket legend Mark Taylor hits back after a rival TV star slammed him over his commentary at the Games: 'It's absolute rubbish'

Aussie Test cricket legend Mark Taylor stared down some of the most fierce bowlers in the world in his day, now he has expertly swatted away harsh criticism of his commentary at the diving events at the Paris Olympics.

Taylor stunned many by joining the Channel Nine commentary team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

He is part of the studio commentary team that remained in Australia, and has been commentating on diving events involving Aussies alongside former Olympic diver Sam Fricker. 

That led former Network Ten star Bailey, who was let go by the broadcaster in 2020, to send down a spicy delivery aimed at Taylor.  

'Mark Taylor calling the diving. A wonderful cricketer. But a little disrespectful to the athletes,' Bailey posted on X.

'Tubby [Taylor's nickname] probably knows nothing about this sport. He's admitted as much. The [executive producer] who made this decision? Your last.'

Taylor appeared on radio network 2DAY FM following that savage take and when asked if it bothered him, he replied, 'Not really.'

'I don't tend to follow social media all that closely. I knew when I said I would do this, that there would be people - naysayers - you know you're going to get that,' he explained.

'The thing I don't accept, I had my daughter come home from teaching her class and said "someone said it is disrespectful to the athletes". I don't accept that.

'I have been out, I have met all the athletes about a month ago. I went out to the pool and watched them dive. They were all delighted that I put my hand up to do it.

'And Sam Fricker is the expert, not me, I'm not a diver. I'm there to do a job, which is to give you the scores, which is a bit like cricket.

'I'm doing my bit, it's not disrespectful - that's absolute rubbish.'

Taylor has also been hammered by the court of public opinion, with his Wikipedia page changed multiple times including listing him as an 'Olympic diving expert' and 'diving doyen'.

'Agree Tubby is not the one to commentate on diving. Very poor coverage indeed,' one posted.

'He's no Daryl Eastlake,' added another.

While there were several viewers who agreed with Bailey, Taylor also had plenty of supporters.

Former Olympic field hockey and AFLW star Georgie Parker, a current television presenter and analyst, slammed Bailey for his comments.

'A commentator is very different to being a special comments/expert,' she posted.

'Sam Fricker is the expert. No different to a main caller in a footy match with the expert adding the insight.'

One follower was quick to point out that Bailey enjoyed a long career as a television weatherman, despite never completing a degree on the subject. 

'You were not a meteorologist but talked about the weather for years. Pot kettle,' they posted. 

Others pointed out that Taylor is not the first cricket player to commentate Olympic diving.

'This is similar back to London 2012 when a former cricketer Michael slater called the diving events. Michael Murphy was a diving expert in the #Olympics in 2012,' one posted.

Some said Bailey should show more respect to Taylor, who hit 19 Test centuries and 40 fifties and claimed 157 slips catches in a glittering career.

'Agree, Tim, also, to an extent, a bit disrespectful to a cricketing legend in Mark Taylor.'