Former Australian Test cricket captain Mark Taylor has hit back at critics of his commentary of the Olympic diving events at Paris 2024.

Some viewers raised an eyebrow when Taylor was introduced as Nine’s commentator poolside for the Olympic diving.

But the experienced cricket pundit of 21 years is refusing to buy into anyone’s disapproval.

READ MORE: Gold for Mollie, silver for Arnie in pulsating final

READ MORE: Aussie hearts melt over classy O’Callaghan moment

READ MORE: Olympic Games Paris 2024 daily schedule: What’s happening on day four

“I don’t tend to follow the media and social media all that closely,” he told 2DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin.

“I knew when I said I’d do this that there would be people, what do they call them, the naysayers, who would say I shouldn’t be doing it. You know you’re going to get that.”

While Taylor was unmoved by the condemnation online and in the media, he admitted that the feedback had hit close to home.

Taylor revealed that students in his adult daughter’s classroom had labelled his actions impolite to the divers.

“The thing I don’t accept, I had my daughter come home from teaching her class and someone had said [to her], ‘It’s disrespectful to the athletes’,” he said.

Watch every moment, every medal of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, every event streaming ad free, live and on demand with 4K on Stan Sport.

“I don’t accept that because I’ve been out and met all the athletes about a month ago. I went out to the pool and watched them dive and they were all delighted that I put my hand up to do it.”

Taylor also explained that his role is not to provide expert commentary — that is reserved for Australian diver and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Sam Fricker whom he supplements.

“Sam Fricker, he’s the expert, not me. I’m not a diver,” he said.

“I’m there to do my job which is to give the audience the scores which is a bit like cricket.”

With question marks over his knowledge of the sport, Taylor established that the scores, statistics and information about the divers shared during the broadcast come about from his own calculations and labour.

“I’m doing my own scores, we do have a table, obviously, but I’m doing my own scores and I’m doing my best,” he said.

“So, it’s not disrespectful. That’s absolute rubbish.”

As well as being a competent keynote speaker, Taylor also features as a regular panellist on Nine’s Sports Sunday.