Its a sad day for cricket. Richie has a long list of services for Cricket. Not only he’d been playing for Australian team but served as commentator on famous Channel 9 of Australia and i remember seeing him on TV during Bensen & Hedges triangular series that Pakistan used to play occassionally
Richie Benaud: Australia cricket legend & commentator dies at 84
Former Australia captain and legendary cricket commentator Richie Benaud has died at the age of 84.
A pioneering leg-spin bowler, Benaud played in 63 Tests, 28 as captain, before retiring in 1964 to pursue a career in journalism and broadcasting.
His final commentary in England came during the 2005 Ashes series but he continued to work for Channel Nine in Australia until 2013.
In November, he revealed he was being treated for skin cancer.
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[TH=“class: left first”]Some famous Benaud one-liners:[/TH]
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“Morning everyone”
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“It’s gone into the confectionery stall and out again”
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“And Glenn McGrath dismissed for two, just ninety-eight runs short of his century”
Benaud took 945 wickets in 259 first-class matches and made 11,719 first-class runs, scoring 23 centuries at an average of 36.50.
He was the first man to achieve 2,000 runs and 200 wickets at Test level.
He was also a highly regarded tactician and never lost a Test series as Australia captain, winning five and drawing two.
After such an impressive playing career, he became even better known as a prolific author, columnist and commentator on cricket.
Richie Benaud’s appearance was affectionately parodied at Australian grounds
Following the 1956 Ashes tour in England, he completed a BBC training course while still a player, marking the beginning of 40-year association with the corporation.
His first BBC radio commentary came in 1960, followed by his first television appearance three years later.
With his mellifluous, light delivery, enthusiastically imitated by comedians and cricket fans alike, Benaud also became the lead commentator on Australian television’s Channel Nine from 1977.
At the age of 83, he crushed two vertebrae when his 1963 Sunbeam vintage sports car hit a brick wall near to his Coogee home in Sydney.
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[TH=“class: left first”]Richie Benaud milestones:[/TH]
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January 1952: Test debut against West Indies at Sydney Cricket Ground
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January 1952: First of 248 Test wickets and 2,201 Test runs
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December 1958: First Test as Australia captain, v England at Brisbane
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Summer 1960: First radio commentary for BBC
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December 1963: In his 60th Test, the first to 2,000 Test runs & 200 wickets
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Summer 1963: First television commentary for BBC
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February 1964: Final Test against South Africa at Sydney Cricket Ground
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September 2005: Final commentary in England after 42 years
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Benaud often spoke of a return to commentary, but, to the great sadness of his legions of admirers, it did not materialise.
Benaud, who was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1961 for services to cricket. leaves a wife of 48 years, Daphne, and two children from his first marriage.
Richie Benaud took 248 Test wickets with a best of 7-72 against India
Benaud married his wife Daphne in 1967
Richie Benaud led an acclaimed Channel Nine commentary team, which featured the late Tony Greig (left), Ian Chappell (second right) and Bill Lawry (right)
BBC Sport - Richie Benaud: Australia cricket legend & commentator dies at 84
