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. 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. His instinctive, aggressive captaincy and daring approach to cricket and his charismatic nature and public relations ability revitalised cricket interest in Australia. It could have killed him if it had struck him where his skull was previously fractured. [7], Up to this point, his first-class batting average was below 30 and his bowling average close to 40, and he had never taken more than four wickets in an innings or six in a match. "[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]. Only seven runs were required with four wickets in hand as time was running short. On the way home Benaud finally fulfilled his potential by taking 7 for 72 (this remained his best Test return) at Madras to set up an Australian innings victory over India, the short series being sealed at Calcutta in the third Test when Benaud took 11 wickets for 105. Wonderful cricketer, great captain, a master craftsman commentator and top man. It was here that Richie Benaud grew up, learning how to bowl leg breaks, googlies and topspinners under his father's watch. ', Home territory: Richie Benaud was the king of the commentary box and at complete ease on cricket grounds around the world including the SCG (above), but as he forged his international commentary career he saw less of his two sons by first wife Marcia, Marcia Benaud said: 'I was at the stage where I preferred to be happy with a little, than rich and unhappy and so I accepted it and I haven't seen him since that day in court.'. [92], During Benaud's captaincy, Australia did not lose a series, and became the dominant team in world cricket. 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. 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. 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. Benauds first marriage, to Marcia Lavender, with whom he had two sons, Greg and Jeffery, was dissolved; he later married Daphne Surfleet, who had been secretary to the cricket writer EW Swanton. Benaud, a former Australian captain and cricketing commentator, was 84 when he died in April 2015 after battling skin cancer. [120][121][122], Prime Minister Tony Abbott offered his family a state funeral; however, his widow, Daphne, declined, respecting his wishes for a private funeral. 'It's obviously been a bit of a strain over the years with Mum and Dad, but Daphne was very kind. Against Len Huttons dominant England tourists in 1954-55 he again did little with bat or ball, just as he struggled in 1956 on his second tour of England, the Lords Test apart: having taken a memorably sharp reflex catch in the gully to dismiss Colin Cowdrey, Benaud was at his cavalier best in an innings of 97, ended by a top edge as he tried to reach his hundred in the grand manner by hooking Fred Trueman. SURPRISINGLY, there is a French Cricket Association. BBC Radio 5 live pays tribute to Richie Benaud. The decisive victory came in the fourth Test, at Old Trafford, when Benauds 6 for 70 and an unlikely Australian 54-run victory shamed England, who fell from 150 for one to 201 all out. [73] Benaud had a poor series with the bat, scoring 45 runs at 9, but was more successful with the ball, taking 15 wickets at 32.53. However, cricketers like Shane Warne, Ian Chappell, Michael Clarke among several others visited his commemoration service on the same day. [7][11] He then finished the summer strongly, and ended the season with 811 runs at 62.38 and 35 wickets at 30.54. [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. His control was admirable, and when Benaud gets a batsman in trouble he rarely if ever gives him a loose one. [29][36][54] Benaud made a strong start to the series against India, taking 3/0 in the first innings of the First Test in Delhi, before a 5/76-second innings haul secured an innings victory. Benaud was the top wicket-taker on the tour, with 32 wickets at 19.31, and Australia's top wicket-taker in the three matches against New Zealand, with 15 wickets at 21.73. He made 140, in a seventh-wicket partnership of 255 in just 176 minutes, an Australian record that still stands. Menu! When it became clear that the cricketing legend was finally about to succumb to skin cancer, Daphne contacted Jeff and Greg Benaud. Flags flew at half-mast at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Benauds home as a first-class cricketer for New South Wales, and flowers were laid at his statue at the venue. Nor have they sought the limelight occupied by their father. The lawsuit against Richie Benauds estate involves complex trusts and superannuation funds both in Australia and overseas, the NSW Supreme court was told on Friday. Benaud said: "I won't be doing live commentary any more." On a green pitch, Benaud came in at 7/96 and featured in a century partnership in only an hour,[14] making 43 himself. Following his retirement from international cricket in 1964, Benaud became a highly regarded commentator on the game. ", added: "So sad to hear about the passing of Richie Benaud. [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. 'I thought when he retired we would be a family together again,' she said. 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. [7], He took the wicket of Queensland batsman Bill Brown in his third match of the season. The selectors persisted in Benaud despite his unproductive Test performances, selecting him for the squad for the 1953 Ashes tour of England. Marcia remembers making the salads for the West Indies team, with Richie cooking on the barbecue he had made himself from Besser blocks, and legends including Everton Weekes, Garfield Sobers, Wes Hall and Frank Worrell standing around in the back yard. 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. Richie commentated regularly during the 201112 season and was part of Nine's commentating team/roster. He sustained a cracked sternum and shoulder injuries. Richie Benaud, Australian Cricket Legend, Dies at Age 84 He had been receiving treatment for skin cancer since November. Richie Benaud (1930-2015) *84, Grave #86215750 - Sysoon [7], He managed only eight runs in four innings in the first two Tests, and having taken only two wickets for 136 runs was dropped for the Third. [4] Benaud had the tendency to bowl around the wicket at a time when he was one of the first players to do so; it had an influence on spin bowlers like Shane Warne and Ashley Giles. "Richie was not just a great cricket commentator, he was one of the finest sports commentators of his generation," said Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport. His father Louis, a third-generation Australian of French Huguenot descent,[4] was a leg spinner who played for Penrith District Cricket Club in Sydney Grade Cricket, gaining attention for taking all twenty wickets in a match against St. Marys for 65. Coupled with his subtle variations in flight and angle of the delivery, he kept the batsman under constant pressure. Benaud had been battling skin cancer and recovering from the after effects of a car accident suffered . He loved winning. After the 1956 Ashes tour in England, he completed a BBC training course while still a player, marking the beginning of a 40-year association with the corporation. [104], He also helped to design a computer-based parody of himself available for download off Channel 4's website called "Desktop Richie". [8] Selected as a batsman, he scored 3 and 19. But some of them played below expectation, and Australias attack contained several bowlers whose actions were perceived as highly suspicious. Benaud was the first player to score 2,000 Test runs and take 200 Test wickets yet was as renowned for his captaincy. He also made 113 against the touring side for the Prime Minister's XI. 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. The Cricket Player, Journalist Richie Benaud passed away at the age of 92. [7] He was recalled immediately for the Fourth Test, but was dropped for the Fifth after managing seven runs in his only innings and going wicketless. 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. Richie Benaud Death Anniversary: Lesser-known Facts About the 'Voice of [62] He took 4/107 in a seven-wicket victory in Melbourne,[63] before the West Indies levelled the series with a 22-run win in Sydney. Some tedious contests had been inflicted on the watching public, with more to follow in the 1960s. [18][19] In another match for New South Wales against the touring team, he took a total of 5/95. In October 2018, Benaud became the 40th Legend in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Around 150,000 deaths are registered in Australia every year, but few receive the "end of an era" tribute accorded Richie Benaud. Marcia Benaud said she had not seen her former husband Richie (pictured in the West Indies in 1991) for 39 years 'except on TV', 'I enjoyed cricket, even though Richie said I didn't like it. At the suggestion that it showed dignity, she said 'thank you.'. Richie Benaud - Bio, Personal Life, Family & Cause Of Death - CelebsAges He finished the first-class tour with 627 runs and 61 wickets at 23.54. Death date: 10 April, 2015, Friday. [7], Despite this, Benaud was chosen for his Test debut in the Fifth Test against the West Indies in 195152 in Sydney. Harsha Bhogle remembers Richie Benaud on 5th death anniversary with sad Legendary Australian cricket commentator Richie Benaud has died. Oscar Cainer tells all. [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. 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.
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