Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE ( / bno /; 6 October 1930 - 10 April 2015) was an Australian cricketer. He scored 97 in Australia's only innings and then took 7/46 in the hosts' first innings as the Australians took an innings win. The tour saw his bowling talents come to the fore when he took 106 wickets,[40] surpassing the previous record of 104 by England's Sydney Barnes. Shane Warne, Australia's record wicket-taker, made a particularly heartfelt contribution.external-link, "Dear Richie, you were a legend on all levels and rightly so too," said Warne. A strong England party, led by Peter May, were widely expected to retain the Ashes. Talking about her marriage to the onetime Australian cricket captain, Ms Benaud's eyes filled with tears and she said: 'He shouldn't have left'. [124], Benaud was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1961 for services to cricket. When South Africa followed on, Benaud took 5/84, which left Australia needing only one run to win. He was attacked by the touring batsmen, taking 1/75 from 16.5 overs in his first outing against an international outfit. [101] Some of his other memorable moments he commentated on included Shane Warne's "Ball of the Century",[102] Ian Botham's dominant all-round display during the 1981 Ashes,[97] Dennis Lillee overtaking Benaud's record for most wickets, and subsequent 300th and 310th wickets, and Andrew Symonds' tackle on a streaker. He spent two weeks in hospital for the surgery. Benaud was a Test cricket all-rounder, blending leg spin bowling with lower-order batting aggression. Along with the West Indian captain Frank Worrell, Benaud's bold leadership enlivened interest in Test cricket among a public who had increasingly regarded it as boring. Now an 85-year-old pensioner, Marcia Benaud hadn't seen Richie Benaud since the 1970s when he was contesting the maintenance paid to support her and their sons. ", added: "So sad to hear about the passing of Richie Benaud. [15] Hassett allowed him to bowl only in the second innings, when nine West Indian wickets had fallen and Australia were on the verge of an inevitable victory. Richie Benaud. Greg joked that before his father's death he had visited him and gained some style advice for the funeral. [4] He was appointed an OBE in that year and in 1962 was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year. This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 20:19. [61], The Test was tied when Solomon ran out Ian Meckiff with a direct hit. Greg remembers him filing newspaper stories down the phone to copytakers and instructing them to wait until he read it back, 'reading it back on 5-4-3-2-1'. Swanton. EXCLUSIVE: Head teacher of leading grammar school is sacked for sending parents a list of striking teachers. Benaud contributed 46 and match figures of 2/73 in a First Test victory at Kingston. . Benaud led New South Wales throughout a dominant season, winning the Sheffield Shield with 64 of the 80 possible points. ", Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycottexternal-link said: "Farewell Richie Benaud. On Channel 4's live commentary, Benaud often made sarcastic comments regarding the advertisement of Desktop Richie. No comments have so far been submitted. [1], Gideon Haigh described him as "perhaps the most influential cricketer and cricket personality since the Second World War. [49] Benaud produced an all-round performance of 46, 5/91 and 4/82 in the Fourth Test in Adelaide to take an unassailable 30 series lead and regain the Ashes,[50] before scoring 64 and match figures of 5/57 to help take the Fifth Test and a 40 series result. [citation needed], The First Test in Brisbane ended in the first tie in Test history, which came about after Benaud and Alan Davidson, rather than settle for a draw, decided to risk defeat and play an attacking partnership, which took Australia to the brink of victory. They brought back all the old memories, sad ones. For the following Australian season in 195253, Benaud started modestly; and, in the five first-class matches before the Tests, he scored 208 runs at 26.00, including a 63 and 69, and 14 wickets at 38.64. Six further wickets in the drawn Third Test saw Benaud end the series with 84 runs at 28 and 18 wickets at 21.11. But that'll be no more television commentary". [56][57] He returned to form with 5/43 and 3/43 as India were defeated by an innings after being forced to follow on in the Fourth Test in Madras. It was developed by the software company Turtlez Ltd. Having downloaded this, cricket fans would be treated to live Test match updates and weather reports from a cartoon version of Benaud with real voice samples such as "Got 'im!" 'Not as much as when we were children. A veteran of 63 Test matches, Benaud played a pivotal role in the formation of World Series Cricket in the 1970s and was one of the worlds most recognised commentators. The unprecedented public interest saw the Caribbean touring party farewelled with a ticker-tape parade by the Australian public. Harvey and Benaud had been captains of their respective states until Harvey moved in the same season for employment purposes from Victoria to New South Wales and became Benaud's deputy. He showed the prowess of his captaincy during a 1960-61 Test series against West Indies, that had seemed to have bagged the first Test as Australia struggled at 92/6 when chasing a target of 233. 6 October 1930 City of Penrith: Date of death: 10 April 2015 Sydney: Manner of death: natural causes; Cause of death: cancer; Country of citizenship: Australia; Country for sport: Australia; Educated at: Parramatta High School; Occupation: cricketer; journalist; "[2] In his review of Benaud's autobiography Anything But, Sri Lankan cricket writer Harold de Andrado wrote: "Richie Benaud possibly next to Sir Don Bradman has been one of the greatest cricketing personalities as player, researcher, writer, critic, author, organiser, adviser and student of the game."[3]. He ended the series with 200 runs at 25 and eight wickets at 42.5. Reaction to the death of former Australian cricket captain and commentator Richie Benaud, known as the 'Voice of Cricket'. He was a one-off., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. "Cricinfo review of Benaud autobiography: "Statsguru R Benaud Tests Innings by innings list", "Bradman sums up on Tests: Lack of Intentness, Spinners Lost Ashes", "Australia Loses Eight For 140 in Sensational Test Collapse", "Australia Prime Minister's XI v Marylebone Cricket Club", "Australia in West Indies 1954/55 (1st Test)", "Australia in West Indies 1954/55 (2nd Test)", "Australia in West Indies 1954/55 (3rd Test)", "Australia in West Indies 1954/55 (5th Test)", "Test batting and fielding in each season by Richie Benaud", "Australia in British Isles 1956 (2nd Test)", "Australia in India and Pakistan 1956/57 (Only Test)", "Australia in India and Pakistan 1956/57 (1st Test)", "Australia in India and Pakistan 1956/57 (2nd Test)", "Australia in India and Pakistan 1956/57 (3rd Test)", "Test bowling in each season by Richie Benaud", "Both pace and spin can succeed in India", "First-class bowling in each season by Richie Benaud", "Australia in South Africa 1957/58 (1st Test)", "Australia in South Africa 1957/58 (2nd Test)", "Australia in South Africa 1957/58 (3rd Test)", "Australia in South Africa 1957/58 (4th Test)", "Australia in South Africa 1957/58 (5th Test)", "Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia and New Zealand 1958/59 (1st Test)", "Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia and New Zealand 1958/59 (2nd Test)", "Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia and New Zealand 1958/59 (3rd Test)", "Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia and New Zealand 1958/59 (4th Test)", "Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia and New Zealand 1958/59 (5th Test)", "Australia in India and Pakistan 1959/60 (1st Test)", "Australia in India and Pakistan 1959/60 (2nd Test)", "Australia in India and Pakistan 1959/60 (3rd Test)", "Australia in India and Pakistan 1959/60 (4th Test)", "Australia in India and Pakistan 1959/60 (5th Test)", "West Indies in Australia 1960/61 (1st Test)", "West Indies in Australia 1960/61 (2nd Test)", "West Indies in Australia 1960/61 (3rd Test)", "West Indies in Australia 1960/61 (4th Test)", "West Indies in Australia 1960/61 (5th Test)", "Australia in British Isles 1961 (1st Test)", "Australia in British Isles 1961 (2nd Test)", "Australia in British Isles 1961 (3rd Test)", "Australia in British Isles 1961 (4th Test)", "Australia in British Isles 1961 (5th Test)", "First-class bowling in Australia for 1961/62 (ordered by wickets)", "New South Wales v Marylebone Cricket Club", "Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia and New Zealand 1962/63 (1st Test)", "Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia and New Zealand 1962/63 (2nd Test)", "Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia and New Zealand 1962/63 (3rd Test)", "Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia and New Zealand 1962/63 (4th Test)", "Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia and New Zealand 1962/63 (5th Test)", "South Africa in Australia and New Zealand 1963/64 (1st Test)", "South Africa in Australia and New Zealand 1963/64 (2nd Test)", "South Africa in Australia and New Zealand 1963/64 (3rd Test)", "South Africa in Australia and New Zealand 1963/64 (4th Test)", "South Africa in Australia and New Zealand 1963/64 (5th Test)", "John Benaud: Donned many a hat, but remained eclipsed by his brother Richie", "Test matches Batting records Fastest hundreds", "Richie Benaud dies aged 84: sport pays tribute", "Richie Benaud much more than a cricket commentator", "End of innings for cricket great Richie Benaud", "SHANE WARNE THE MIKE GATTING BALL VS ENGLAND 1993", "The legend of Richie Benaud's cream jacket began during World Series Cricket", "Benaud's all-time team opens up a can of worms, but imagine watching them play", "Benaud declares with a warning to cricket", "Got 'im! They are Richie Benaud's secret first family, whose lives are far removed from the glittering sporting career the cricket legend led in the media spotlight before his death in April. Richie Benaud was the captain of the Australian team that was in charge of the Australian side which featured in Test cricket's first-ever tied match, against the West Indies in 1960-61. Daphne Benaud invited sons Greg and Jeffrey to the private service, which was attended by about 20 people, before a more public wake at the Australian Golf Club. [7] In the opening match of the season, he struck 158 and took 5/88 and 1/65 against Queensland. [7] He was selected for an Australian XI match against England, in what was effectively a trial for Test selection, but suffered a chipped bone in his thumb. He was the mainstay in Australian cricket television commentary until the past two summers - a car accident in 2013 sidelined him before he announced in November last year that he was fighting skin cancer. His first series as skipper was remarkable for a number of reasons. Coupled with his subtle variations in flight and angle of the delivery, he kept the batsman under constant pressure. Kissing the bride was [tricky],' Marcia told Daily Mail Australia. [7][11] He also put on 167 in a partnership with Alan Davidson, the first collaboration between the pair, who would later go on to lead Australia's bowling in the last five years of their career. Benaud said: "I won't be doing live commentary any more." He finished the first-class tour with 627 runs and 61 wickets at 23.54. The first Test of the season, against the touring South Africans, saw high drama as Australia's left arm paceman Ian Meckiff was called for throwing by Colin Egar and removed from the attack by Benaud after one over. Tony Abbott offers family a state funeral for the former Australian leg-spinner, cricket captain and commentator. Someone asked me, "Does that mean you'll never again go into the commentary box? A petite and gracious lady with a merry laugh and a gentle demeanour, Marcia Benaud has lived a 'contented' life a world apart from the public life Richie Benaud led with second wife Daphne. But he was a survivor, even if his friendship with Bradman never quite recovered from that cricket civil war. Even worse, many such slurs aren't from men but 'I couldn't do it without you': Victoria Beckham poses with her whole family after her PFW show - as she Brooklyn Beckham puts on a loved-up display with wife Nicola Peltz as they head back to hotel after Cruz Beckham supports his mother Victoria as he carrying his very own VB handbag on the way to her show Like father, like daughter! The parents who fear their 11-year-olds will be scarred for life by the graphic sex education lessons that Two Insulate Britain protesters are jailed for contempt of court after they defied a judge's orders not to 'Derek fights on, it makes me fall in love with him all over again:' Kate Garraway reveals there are days French authorities fear 'narco-tourists' could flock to Normandy beaches after 'more than two tonnes of Hopes for cervical cancer vaccine after trials in mice showed it reduced tumours 80 per cent of the time. She kept me informed so that I knew when Dad was sick. [5] Lou later moved to Parramatta region in western Sydney, and played for Cumberland. He came from a cricket family, with his younger brother John Benaud also going on to become an Australian Test cricketer. Craig had fallen ill, and just when the senior player, Neil Harvey, was expected to succeed to the leadership, Benauds name was announced. [113][123], Benaud was buried on 15 April, in a private funeral ceremony attended only by his immediate family. He secured his place after scoring 125 against Queensland at the start of the season,[23] although his lead-up form in two matches against England for his state and an Australian XI was not encouraging. Greg said he did not wish to discuss his brother Jeff, who is married with no children and is believed to have worked in marketing. Benaud went on to dismiss tail-ender Alf Valentine for his first Test wicket, conceding 14 runs from 4.3 overs. By Candace Sutton for Daily Mail Australia, Published: 05:25 GMT, 2 October 2015 | Updated: 10:26 GMT, 2 October 2015. Biography - A Short Wiki [66] With Davidson back, Australia won the final Test by two wickets,[67] after a controversial incident in which Australian wicketkeeper Wally Grout was not given out hit wicket when a bail was dislodged and the umpires did not notice. The reason for Richie Benaud death was stated that he died due to Skin cancer. Australia never lost a series under the leg-spinning all-rounder's . Benaud struck exactly 100 in the first innings, before taking 4/70 in South Africa's reply. Benaud's highest Test score of 122 was made against South Africa, His best Test bowling effort of 7 for 72 was against, He captained Australia in 28 Tests: 12 wins, 11 draws, 1 tie, 4 losses. Former Australia captain and legendary cricket commentator Richie Benaud has died at the age of 84. [7] This was part of a month-long run in which he made only 123 runs in eight innings and took only seven wickets in four matches. As a batsman, he was tall and lithe, known for his hitting power, in particular his lofted driving ability from the front foot. Tributes have been pouring in from around the world following the news of Benaud's death. This was exhibited in the 196061 Test series against the visiting West Indians, in which the grounds were packed to greater levels than they are today despite Australia's population doubling since then. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. This was enough for him to gain selection for the start of the Tests. [97], After retiring from playing in 1964, Benaud turned to full-time cricket journalism and commentary, dividing his time between Britain (where he worked for the BBC for many years before joining Channel 4 in 1999), and Australia (for the Nine Network). [citation needed], Benaud then led Australia on its first full tour of the Indian subcontinent, playing three and five Tests against Pakistan and India respectively. Greg Benaud had just turned twelve and his brother Jeffrey was nine. His instinctive, aggressive captaincy and daring approach to cricket and his charismatic nature and public relations ability revitalised cricket interest in Australia. Aussie TV stands up for England", "12th Man Billy Birmingham on Richie Benaud", "Richie Benaud retires from all television commentary", "Richie Benaud signs new three-year deal with Channel Nine", "Richie Benaud dies: Prime Minister Tony Abbott offers a state funeral for cricket great", "Bon Voyage, 'Sir Richie': a teacher, a gentleman", "Voice of cricket happy to strengthen his French connection", "Richie Benaud A Marvellous Life 19302015 Full Episode", "Richie Benaud: time to say goodbye to cricket's permanent witness", "Richie Benaud: World pays tribute to cricket legend & commentator", "Richie Benaud family declines Australia state funeral", "Richie Benaud: Private funeral for cricket legend", "Richie Benaud obituary: the 'voice of cricket' was the game's shrewdest analyst", "Benaud, Gooch, Compton, Larwood and Woolley inducted into Cricket Hall of Fame", "Marvellous Richie Benaud becomes the 40th Legend of Australian sport", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richie_Benaud&oldid=1141586246. Benaud had an ineffective match with the ball, taking 1/162. Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards said Benaud was "the iconic voice of our summer", while the Australian government has offered to hold a state funeral. The well-groomed couple divided their time between their apartment in the Sydney beach suburb of Coogee, their house in France and five star hotels near the cricketing grounds of England as he pursued his broadcasting career. I've got a black dress hanging inside,' Marcia said, laughing. Benaud often spoke of a return to commentary but, to the great sadness of his legions of admirers, it did not materialise. ", Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkaraexternal-link added: "So sad to hear about the passing of Richie Benaud. We'd have baked dinners on a Sunday at their houses.'. Shortly after the the Australian cricket captain and celebrated commentator's death in April from cancer, Ms Benaud spoke to Daily Mail Australia from her housing flat on the NSW Central Coast, north of Sydney. He played the game the right way., Our country has lost a national treasure, Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards said in a statement. When it became clear that the cricketing legend was finally about to succumb to skin cancer, Daphne contacted Jeff and Greg Benaud. Three of the Tests were drawn, Australias Bill Lawry, Bob Simpson and Ken Mackay scoring at a snails pace (matched by Geoff Pullar, Ken Barrington and Cowdrey for England). Benaud, who was appointed OBE in 1961 for services to cricket, leaves a wife of 48 years, Daphne, and two children from his first marriage. [7], In the next Shield match against Victoria, led by Australian captain Lindsay Hassett, Benaud came in for attack. [117], Benaud had last handed "Baggy green" caps to Simon Katich and Mitchell Starc when they made their test debut, but Benaud's own was lost early in his Test career, and former captainnow commentator and the Director of Cricket Australia, Mark Taylorwas to present the replacement cap to him at the semi-final of the 2015 Cricket World Cup between Australia and India at the SCG, but Benaud was too unwell to attend, and when the cap arrived at Channel 9 headquarters, it was the day before Benaud died. [7] As a specialist batsman, he made his first-class debut for New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground against Queensland in the New Year's match of the 194849 season. When the time came for Richie Benaud's final departure, Greg and Jeff were given the opportunity to visit their father, and they informed Marcia who said she took the philosophical view 'that it might be God's will'. His career in television then took off, while his contract with the News of the World was to proceed for half a century until the paper closed in 2011. 581 Former Australia cricket captain and renowned commentator Richie Benaud has died aged 84. What an innings. 2. In 1960, he made his first radio commentary in the United Kingdom at the BBC, after which he moved into television. Richie Benaud, who has died aged 84, was perhaps best known latterly for his work as a global cricket commentator, with his distinctive voice, familiar fixed gaze, prominent bottom lip and. The Caribbeans were skittled for 134 in reply and went on to lose the match, although they attacked the young leg-spinner, who took 1/130 in total from 36 overs. He made another century in the return match, striking 144 not out and taking a total of 2/55. He helped the Australian team have the attitude where they wanted to win. Benaud's 5/13 in 25 balls instigated an English collapse which saw Australia retain the Ashes. His record reads 12 wins, 11 draws, one tie, and four losses from 28 Tests in charge of Australia. 'There was the odd phone call from England,' she told Daily Mail Australia. But I won't be on the live commentary roster. [78] Benaud started the series with seven wickets and a half century as the First Test in Brisbane was drawn. [92], During Benaud's captaincy, Australia did not lose a series, and became the dominant team in world cricket. His selection was frequently questioned in those early years, when much other flowering talent was evident in domestic cricket. Abbott described him as the voice of cricket. Benaud embraced his players when opposition wickets fell, something that was uncommon at the time. The great voice of cricket is no more. He led from the front with his bowling, taking match figures of 7/112 in his debut as captain as Australia claimed the First Test in Brisbane. It was his first five-wicket haul in a Test innings. from around the world following the news of Benaud's death.