[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. Marcia had thought Richie's hanging up of the bat would bring him home. Final respects: Greg Benaud (pictured) dressed for his father's funeral in April, for which Greg said Richie had given him some advice before he died to 'get a haircut, but don't take too much off'. The death of Richie Benaud has reverberated around the world after news broke on Friday morning of the former Australia cricket captain's death at the age of 84. Richie Benaud dies: Eight rules of commentary - The Independent Lived: 30867 days = 84 years. He made 140, in a seventh-wicket partnership of 255 in just 176 minutes, an Australian record that still stands. [7], On arrival in the British Isles, Benaud quickly made an impression with both bat and ball. Marcia Benaud kept her surname 'for the sake of my sons. [4] According to Neil Harvey, he also was the first captain who started hosting team meetings, a procedure now followed by his successors after he retired. [7][14] Benaud ended his season with 97 and a total of 3/39 in an innings win over South Australia.[7]. [125] In 1999, he was awarded a Logie Award for Most Outstanding Sports Broadcaster. [16] He suffered a smashed gum and a severely cut top lip when a square cut by John Waite in the Third Test against South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground hit him in the face while he was fielding at short gully. 'I remember a time when he called from the cricket and said Sir Donald Bradman was coming over for dinner and I thought Sir Donald Bradman! Australian Test captain Michael Clarke said Benaud was a gentleman who played cricket in the right spirit. The Cricket Player, Journalist Richie Benaud passed away at the age of 92. Like all fans of the sport, I will miss him very much.. Benaud had been battling skin cancer and recovering from the after effects of a car accident suffered . [64][65] In Adelaide, with Davidson absent, Benaud bowled long spells to take match figures of 7/207 in addition to a score of 77 in the first innings. Benaud retired from international cricket in 1964 and turned to full-time cricket journalism and commentary, for which he already had runs on the board with the BBC. He was a one-off., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Richie Benaud's 90th birth anniversary celebrated in new Cricket [41], In the Second Test at Cape Town, Benaud took 4/95 and then 5/49 in the second innings to secure an innings victory after the home team were forced to follow on. In all he missed a third of the matches due to injury. He still managed to say I do quite firmly. Within the year he had spun his way to a further 47 wickets in eight Tests in Pakistan and India, and all was set for what was perceived as a world championship contest against the visiting West Indies team. Ms Benaud said Richie hadkept in touch with their sons, but as the years went by they 'didn't see him as often'. Along with fellow bowling all-rounder Alan Davidson, he helped restore Australia to the top of world cricket in the late 1950s and early 1960s after a slump in the early 1950s. He finished the first-class tour with 627 runs and 61 wickets at 23.54. By that summers end, with the beaten but popular West Indies having had a tickertape motorcade send-off in Melbourne, Richie Benauds own popularity was sealed. Richie proposed to Marcia and the engaged pair planned to marry on January 15, 1953, in between the third and fourth tests against the touring South African team. Some tedious contests had been inflicted on the watching public, with more to follow in the 1960s. He played the game the right way., Our country has lost a national treasure, Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards said in a statement. He ended the series with 200 runs at 25 and eight wickets at 42.5. A veteran of 63 Test matches,. There would be very few Australians who have not passed a summer in the company of Richie Benaud. Richie Benaud's first wife reveals her troubled relationship with him 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. His last goodbye was interrupted by Glenn McGrath taking Kevin Pietersen's wicket; Benaud simply wove his description of the dismissal into what he was already saying. Then came the 1953 tour, the first of three he was to make to England as a player. [4] The First Test at Edgbaston was drawn with Benaud taking three wickets. [31] Benaud and Daphne often stayed at their holiday home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. 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. [130], Last edited on 25 February 2023, at 20:19, 195455 series when England visited Australia, 196061 Test series against the visiting West Indians, 196263 saw an English team under Dexter visit Australia, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Jane McGrath Day for Breast Cancer awareness and fundraising, List of New South Wales representative cricketers, List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Richie Benaud. In a one-off Test against Pakistan in Karachi, he scored 56 and took 1/36 as Australia fell to defeat. [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. [27] In the Fifth Test at Kingston, he struck a century in 78 minutes, despite taking 15 minutes to score his first run. But he was a survivor, even if his friendship with Bradman never quite recovered from that cricket civil war. He justified their decision prior to the team's departure, scoring 167 not out and taking match figures of 7/137 for the touring team against a Tasmania Combined XI, his wickets including Test batsmen Miller, Ian Craig and Neil Harvey. 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. It is only a shame he did not get the send-off he deserved - the game of cricket has not had a chance to say goodbye, BBC commentator Jonathan Agnew told the broadcaster. His selection was frequently questioned in those early years, when much other flowering talent was evident in domestic cricket. 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. His first series as skipper was remarkable for a number of reasons. Category:Richie Benaud - Wikimedia Commons [6] In eight first-class matches after his Test campaign was over, Benaud added a further half-century in addition to the century against Pearce's XI, and took 22 more wickets, including 4/20 against the Gentlemen of England. Benaud was recalled to the New South Wales First XI in late December for the Christmas and New Year's fixtures. After 28 X-rays showed nothing, it was finally diagnosed that the crater in his forehead had resulted in a skull fracture and he was sidelined for the remainder of the season,[6] since a second impact could have been fatal. At one stage, New South Wales were six wickets down with less than 150 runs scored, but Benaud refused to attempt to defend for a draw. Leading opposition batsman Everton Weekes edged Benaud in his first over, but Gil Langley dropped the catch. He chose to end his British commentary career, which spanned more than 42 years, when the rights to broadcast live Test match cricket were lost by Channel 4 to the subscription broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting. [6] Benaud's bold leadership coupled with his charismatic nature and public relations ability enlivened interest in Test cricket among a public who had increasingly regarded it as boring. ", At the age of 83, he crushed two vertebrae when his 1963 Sunbeam vintage sports car, Test debut against West Indies at Sydney Cricket Ground, First of 248 Test wickets and 2,201 Test runs, First Test as Australia captain, v England at Brisbane, In his 60th Test, the first to 2,000 Test runs & 200 wickets, Final Test against South Africa at Sydney Cricket Ground, Final commentary in England after 42 years. Richie Benaud obituary | Richie Benaud | The Guardian He had been receiving treatment for skin cancer since November. He was a great player and a great captain; a wonderful leader of men and he continued that off the field, Clarke told the Nine Network. Plastic surgeon reveals five cosmetic procedures she would NEVER get - from dangerous Brazilian butt lifts BEL MOONEY:Why does caring for my dad take over my life? The boys played cricket in the yard and at school, where Jeffrey made the school eleven and Greg 'started as an off break bowler and ended up as leg spin'. The great voice of cricket is no more. Do not sell or share my personal information. Will always be remembered and admired. During the interview, Ms Benaud revealed details her life with Richie before she was left 'devastated' when he left her to marry his second wife, Daphne. Five days before their wedding and listening to the match on the radio, Marcia heard that her fianc had been struck in the lip while fielding. [52] He took four wickets in a Second Test in Lahore that sealed the series 20,[53] the last time Australia would win a Test in Pakistan until Mark Taylor's men in 1998, 37 years later. Last updated on 10 April 201510 April 2015.From the section Cricket. Benaud was another contender with 219 wickets, but it was Statham who broke the record (only to be overtaken by Trueman in New Zealand) and Benaud had to be content with breaking Ray Lindwall's Australian record of 228 Test wickets. But he chose to study architecture over cricket, although not finishing his degree, Marcia Benaud (pictured in the garden of her Central Coast home) said following the end of her marriage to Richie Benaud, the cricketing great preferred to keep his past quiet and contact with their famous Dad became less frequent as they got older, Richie and Marcia Benaud pictured with their two sons, Jeffrey (left) and Greg (centre) in the early 1960s during the early days of his Test career at a time when cricketers earned little reward and Benaud had do advertisements to pay for keeping a family. Benaud's 5/13 in 25 balls instigated an English collapse which saw Australia retain the Ashes. Despite this impairment to his bowling shoulder, his team played with an aggressive strategy leading them to lose only one Test match and no other matches during the tour, honouring his pre-series pledge. whose family has been offered a state funeral after his death at the age of 84. 'It was a 6pm wedding. Benaud was given a chance against the visiting team when New South Wales played them in Sydney after the First Test. [61], The Test was tied when Solomon ran out Ian Meckiff with a direct hit. The next season saw the last of Benaud on the field of play, apart from some later charity matches and light-hearted private tours. They were booed and heckled as they left the field and Benaud's reputation as a "go ahead" cricket captain was badly tarnished. [29][36], It was the first of his successes against India, against whom he took his wickets at an average of 18. [76], In another match against Victoria, he ordered his team to attempt to score 404 on the final day to take an unlikely victory in accordance with a promise to score at 400 per day. Up to this point, in seven matches for the season, the young all-rounder had only scored 307 runs at 27.90 and taken ten wickets at 64.80. 2. By Andrew McGarry. With an attacking partnership, the pair took Australia to within sight of the target. Richie Benaud, pictured during his touring days as Australian Test captain had an interest in cars, particularly Renaults and Sunbeams, and passed that interest down to his sons Greg and Jeff, Richie Benaud (pictured) married his second wife Daphne, an ardent cricket fan, in 1967 and together the couple forged a remarkable partnership during which the former Test captain became a legend behind the microphone. [30] His fielding, in particular at gully and short leg, was consistently of a high standard, in particular his acrobatic catch to dismiss Colin Cowdrey. Witch, Harridan, Harpy, and new insults like Karen and Terf. He was 84. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, At the suggestion that it showed dignity, she said 'thank you.'. By Candace Sutton for Daily Mail Australia, Published: 05:25 GMT, 2 October 2015 | Updated: 10:26 GMT, 2 October 2015. CNN Former Australia cricket captain and legendary broadcaster Richie Benaud has died at the age of 84. He took up a journalism position with the News of the World,[98] beginning as a police roundsman before becoming a sports columnist. Listen to impressionist Rory Bremner paying tribute to Richie Benaud. Richie Benaud, former Australia cricket captain, dies at 84 When it became clear that the cricketing legend was finally about to succumb to skin cancer, Daphne contacted Jeff and Greg Benaud. Opening the batting, he struck 135 in 110 minutes in the second innings, including an Australian record of eleven sixes, four of them in one over. 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. Swanton. But Richie asked the pretty young woman out, and when he moved on to a job as a clerk at The Sun newspaper their relationship grew. England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke said cricket had "lost perhaps its greatest advocate and someone who was a true giant of the modern game". 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). Recruited by Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer in the 1970s, Benaud would become a driving force behind World Series Cricket, his voice lending respectability to the breakaway professional circuit that would ultimately change the game. Benaud was born in Penrith, New South Wales, in 1930. Benaud led his country. 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. It was another lean series with the ball, Benaud's 17 wickets costing 40.47, the third consecutive series where his wickets cost more than 30. Lou Benaud, who had once taken all 20 wickets in a bush match, keenly and wisely guided his two sons. ", Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycottexternal-link said: "Farewell Richie Benaud. [35] He took 6/52 and 5/53, his best-ever match analysis, ending the series with 113 runs at 18.83 and 24 wickets at 17.66. [31], The 196162 Australian season was purely a domestic one, with no touring international team. R ichie Benaud, Australia's legendary cricket captain and commentator, died in Sydney on Friday, his family said. [78] Benaud started the series with seven wickets and a half century as the First Test in Brisbane was drawn. Birth date: 6 October, 1930, Monday. He was attacked by the touring batsmen, taking 1/75 from 16.5 overs in his first outing against an international outfit. [8] Selected as a batsman, he scored 3 and 19. Richie Benaud was an all-time great all-rounder cricketer, a crafty leg-spinner who captured 248 wickets in 63 Tests, an attacking lower-order batsman who hit one of the fastest Test centuries, a brilliant gully . Jeffrey Benaud is not involved in the court action Marcia and Greg Benaud have taken against Daphne Benaud in the Supreme Court. [72], During England's chase on the final afternoon it became apparent that, with Ted Dexter scoring quickly, Australia would lose the Test unless England were bowled out. Richie Benaud (1930-2015) *84, Grave #86215750 - Sysoon Doctors told him he was lucky: it could have broken his cheekbones, jaw or removed his eyesight if it had hit any of the surrounding areas. [119] He died in his sleep on 10 April 2015. [47] Benaud's men won the Second Test,[48] before he took 5/83 and 4/94 in the drawn Third Test. Biography - A Short Wiki His leg spin yielded ten wickets at 30.60, with a best of 4/118 in the Fourth Test in Adelaide when he was given a heavy workload, totalling 58 overs,[7] when Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller broke down during the match. His major advisory work for Kerry Packer during crickets revolutionary upheaval in the late 1970s alienated him in some traditional quarters, one consequence being an outcry for Benaud to be removed from BBCs television commentary panel. 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. UPDATE 1-Cricket-Reaction to the death of the 'Voice of Cricket' Benaud Discover the real story, facts, and details of Richie Benaud. [36], Benaud was awarded life membership by the New South Wales Cricket Association, but he returned it in protest in 1970 when his younger brother John was removed from the captaincy. [105] It was also emulated by New Zealand broadcaster John Campbell. [4], On his third and final tour to England in 1961, he was hampered by damaged tendons in his right shoulder, which forced him to miss the Second Test at Lord's known as the "Battle of the Ridge". The tour included seven first-class matches, three of which were unofficial Tests. [87], Upon his return, Benaud advised the Australian Cricket Board that it would be in the better interests of the team if Simpson continued as captain for the remainder of the season. [92], During Benaud's captaincy, Australia did not lose a series, and became the dominant team in world cricket. [97], In 2004, Benaud starred in a series of television advertisements for the Australian Tourism Commission, aimed at promoting Australia as a tourist destination. His final commentary in England came during the 2005 Ashes series, but he continued to work for Channel Nine in Australia until 2013. 65/-. He ended the Test series with 15 runs at 3.00 and two wickets at 87.00. [29], During the 1956 tour to England, he helped Australia to its only victory in the Lord's Test, when he scored a rapid 97 in the second innings in 143 minutes from only 113 balls. Marcia said that from time to time when people inquired about her name, she would quietly respond that yes, she was the first Mrs Richie Benaud. [25] After a draw in the Second Test,[26] he took three wickets in four balls to end with 4/15 in the first innings at Georgetown, Guyana, before scoring 68 (his first Test half century) as Australia moved to a 20 series lead. 'I would have liked to have gone [to the funeral]. Benaud said: "I won't be doing live commentary any more." "[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]. [103], The idea for what became his trademarkwearing a cream or white jacket during live commentarycame from Channel 9 owner Kerry Packer, who suggested the look to help Benaud stand out from the rest of the commentary team. It was presented to his wife. The opener at Brisbane delivered the thrill of crickets first tied Test match. [32] He claimed his Test innings best of 7/72 in the first innings of the First Test in Madras, allowing Australia to build a large lead and win by an innings. After his retirement from international cricket in 1964, he became a well-known commentator on the game. [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. [8] He contributed significantly with both bat and ball in New South Wales' Sheffield Shield triumph, the first of nine consecutive titles. [6][46] Benaud had little prior leadership experience, and faced the task of recovering the Ashes from an England team which had arrived in Australia as favourites. What an innings. [79] This was followed by three unproductive Tests which yielded only 5/360 and a win apiece. "[39], After a break in the international calendar of a year, the 195758 tour to South Africa heralded the start of a phase of three international seasons when Benaud was at his peak. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. I know Mum found it difficult to live on ten pounds a week. He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985. [6][7] New South Wales were the dominant state at the time, and vacancies in the team were scarce, particularly as there were no Tests that season and all of the national team players were available for the whole summer. Benauds crew cruised to a 4-0 victory, the skipper taking 31 wickets for an average of 18.83 runs each. Reaction to the death of former Australian cricket captain and commentator Richie Benaud, known as the 'Voice of Cricket'. SURPRISINGLY, there is a French Cricket Association. According to Eryk Bagshaw of The Sydney Morning Herald, Benaud had been in hospice care while. Born October 6, 1930, Benaud was a legend by every definition on the book, but there . Richie Benaud: Private funeral for cricket legend - BBC News ", added: "So sad to hear about the passing of Richie Benaud. Richie Benaud: 21 lesser-known facts about the Voice of Cricket ", said: "Farewell Richie Benaud. How did Richie Benaud Die? Vale Richie: Greg Benaud, 60, and his younger brother, Jeffrey, were very happy to be invited by Richie's second wife Daphne to attend the private funeral in April, for which Greg quipped he would have haircut, a shave and don a suit to farewell his Dad, 'I want to respect Jeff's privacy,' he said. They were different times and it was the right thing to do for them.'. from around the world following the news of Benaud's death. Menu! He was known for his unbuttoned shirt, and raised eyebrows with his on-field exuberance. [4] Educated at Parramatta High School, Benaud made his first grade debut for Cumberland at age 16, primarily as a batsman. He made 1 in the second before a last-wicket partnership between Davidson and Graham McKenzie of 98 yielded a defendable target. He had been receiving treatment for skin cancer since November. [18][19] In another match for New South Wales against the touring team, he took a total of 5/95. This put him out of action until the last match of the season,[13] leaving him with little opportunity to impress the national selectors for his rise to international cricket. [4] The first of these came in the First Test at Johannesburg, where after conceding 1/115, Benaud struck 122, his highest Test score, to see Australia reach a draw. [107], Benaud commentated for the BBC TV highlights of the 200607 Ashes in Australia as part of his continuing commentary work for Australia's Nine Network. [7][11] He then finished the summer strongly, and ended the season with 811 runs at 62.38 and 35 wickets at 30.54. Benaud removed Meckiff from the attack and did not recall him. It was here that Richie Benaud grew up, learning how to bowl leg breaks, googlies and topspinners under his father's watch. Marcia Benaud pictured with elder son Greg, then aged 18 months, on Umina Beach in 1956. [7] They brought back all the old memories, sad ones. Such guarded humour as he evinced bore the touch of a man who was keen to be seen above all else as discerning. He had managed, in the 14 Tests since then, 559 runs at 27.95 and 67 wickets at 24.98. It was screened before Australias Test series against India last December. Reaction to the death of the 'Voice of Cricket' Benaud | Reuters [113][123], Benaud was buried on 15 April, in a private funeral ceremony attended only by his immediate family. Some famous Benaud phrases and one-liners: "It's gone straight into the confectionary stall and out again"", "And Glenn McGrath dismissed for two, just ninety-eight runs short of his century", Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards said Benaud was "the iconic voice of our summer", while the Australian government has. Richie Benaud Dead: Legendary Cricket Commentator Dies At 84 A strong England party, led by Peter May, were widely expected to retain the Ashes. RIP Richie Benaud. Marcia gave birth to their first son Greg in 1955, and Jeffery in 1958. [7], He took the wicket of Queensland batsman Bill Brown in his third match of the season. Benaud often spoke of a return to commentary but, to the great sadness of his legions of admirers, it did not materialise. Marcia Benaud's eyes misted up when she spoke about watching the tributes which flowed on TV following her late ex-husband's death in April, saying the coverage brought back sad memories of the life they had together, Muzzled: Richie Benaud, pictured in 1953, with his fiancee Marcia Lavender prior to their wedding and following an injury while he was fielding and a ball hit him in the face, causing his lip to split, but Marcia says he managed to utter a firm 'I do', Marcia Benaud (pictured with son Greg) remembered the day her then husband Richie rang up to say Sir Donald Bradman was coming over for dinner and after an initial panic over what to serve, she came up with chicken soup followed by roast chicken with salad for the legend in her Beecroft living room, Richie Benaud in his Test playing days, pictured in 1961, when he was still married to Marcia and they were bringing up two young sons, Greg, then aged six and Jeffrey, aged four, 'There was another time when the prime minister Robert Menzies invited us to have dinner with the Queen on the Britannia when it was docked in Sydney.