The young leg spinner claimed Hassett in the second innings when a ball landed in a crack and skidded through onto his foot. [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. [29][36], It was the first of his successes against India, against whom he took his wickets at an average of 18. Greg Benaud had just turned twelve and his brother Jeffrey was nine. from around the world following the news of Benaud's death. R ichie Benaud, Australia's legendary cricket captain and commentator, died in Sydney on Friday, his family said. He made another century in the return match, striking 144 not out and taking a total of 2/55. 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. [11] He scored 20 not out and was not called on to bowl in the second innings. [4] He was appointed an OBE in that year and in 1962 was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year. 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. Do not sell or share my personal information. The tour included seven first-class matches, three of which were unofficial Tests. Richard (Richie) Benaud, cricketer and commentator, died on April 10th, aged 84. He made 140, in a seventh-wicket partnership of 255 in just 176 minutes, an Australian record that still stands. Wonderful cricketer, great captain, a master craftsman commentator and top man. 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. Explore Richie Benaud's biography, personal life, family and cause of death. 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. He played the game the right way., Our country has lost a national treasure, Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards said in a statement. [47] Benaud's men won the Second Test,[48] before he took 5/83 and 4/94 in the drawn Third Test. Wedding bells: Pretty young typist Marcia Lavender pictured after marrying Richie Benaud in January 1953, days after Benaud had been hit in the mouth during a Test match against South Africa and had trouble kissing the bride because of the stitches in his lip, Second love: Following Richie Benaud's divorce from first wife Marcia in March 1976, he married English secretary Daphne Surfleet in July (pictured on their wedding day) and there began a romance and partnership which ended only with his death in April from cancer, Daphne and Richie Benaud (pictured in 2005) travelled the world with his international cricket commentating career, and thought he saw his sons infrequently, his eldest Greg, said Daphne and been 'kind and fair over the years'. 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. Soon after television came to Australia he appeared in a commercial, tending his garden with a Victa lawnmower. [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. [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. 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 . More surprisingly, its patron until his death was Richie . But I will be doing all sorts of, what I regard as, interesting things for Channel Nine on the cricketspecial features on the cricket". The great voice of cricket is no more. 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. We will remember him forever. Richie Benaud dies aged 84 - rolling reaction The former Australia cricket captain and commentator, who played 63 Test matches, has died at the age of 84 Updated 9 Apr 2015 9 Apr 2015 Flags. Richie Benaud's Death - Cause and Date Born (Birthday) Oct 6, 1930 Death Date April 10, 2015 Age of Death 84 years Cause of Death Skin Cancer Profession Cricket Player The cricket player Richie Benaud died at the age of 84. Richie Benaud. Inside Matt Hancock's 41-hour battle to save his career when photo of 'a snog and heavy petting' with aide Will Vladimir Putin's empress pay the ultimate price for his war on the West? 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? At the suggestion that it showed dignity, she said 'thank you.'. And despite the years since she saw the only man she ever married, Marcia Lorraine Lavender Benaud said she had watched the television tributes to her late former husband with mixed feelings. [31] Benaud and Daphne often stayed at their holiday home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. [79] This was followed by three unproductive Tests which yielded only 5/360 and a win apiece. Richie Benaud had a thing for cars, starting off with a Morris Minor, graduating to Renaults when, as a lowly paid cricketer of the era, he took to advertising shaving cream, and the French cars with the jingle 'Renault for Benaud'. [68] After Harvey led the team to victory at Lord's,[69] Benaud had an unhappy return in the Third at Headingley scoring two runs in two innings and taking match figures of 2/108 as Australia lost within three days. [55] Benaud had less of an impact on the next two Tests, which Australia lost and drew, totaling 6/244. 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. In November, he revealed he was being treated for skin cancer. On Channel 4's live commentary, Benaud often made sarcastic comments regarding the advertisement of Desktop Richie. "As a cricketer, commentator and as a person, you were the best there's ever been and, to top it off, an absolute gentleman. He finished the first-class tour with 627 runs and 61 wickets at 23.54. He was 84. Despite this, Benaud told chairman of selectors Don Bradman that he would still be going for an improbable victory in accordance with his policy of aggression. Benaud often spoke of a return to commentary but, to the great sadness of his legions of admirers, it did not materialise. How Prince Harry's chat with guru who compared Hamas terrorists to Jews who battled the Nazis has appalled JAN MOIR: Goodbye Ken, the world always seemed safer with you on the airwaves, Abstaining from masturbating RAISES risk of anxiety, depression and erectile dysfunction, study warns. Later that same day, there was a commemoration service officiated by former teammate turned lay preacher Brian Booth; attendees included his family and close friendsamong them former players, including Ian Chappell and Shane Warne, and Australian Test captain Michael Clarke. Asked whether that was sad for her, Marcia said: 'I've accepted it'. [7], Despite this, Benaud was chosen for his Test debut in the Fifth Test against the West Indies in 195152 in Sydney. [4], Johnnie Moyes said "Certainly Benaud received a little help from the roughened patches, but he could do what the off-spinners could not do: he could turn the ball, mostly slowly, sometimes with more life. ", Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkaraexternal-link added: "So sad to hear about the passing of 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. This was enough for him to gain selection for the start of the Tests. [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. Benaud played international cricket from 1952 to 1964, and Australia never lost a series under his captaincy (28 games). He appeared in Richie Benaud's Greatest XI, a video in which he chooses his own team. Benaud had an ineffective match with the ball, taking 1/162. [7], He took the wicket of Queensland batsman Bill Brown in his third match of the season. The Cricket Player, Journalist Richie Benaud passed away at the age of 92. 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. There were good times when he was home at the family house in Beecroft, in Sydney's north. 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. [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. [8], He also showed his hitting ability in a tour match against T.N. Benaud took 3/116 to complement scores of 43 and 90 on his return in the Third Test in Sydney. [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". With Ray Lindwall, Keith Miller and Ernie Toshack, three of Australia's leading four bowlers from the 1948 Invincibles tour of England unavailable, Benaud bowled heavily in some matches. In an early tour match Benaud took his best first class innings haul of 1810187 for New South Wales against the MCC, which lost by an innings and 80 runs, the state's biggest win against the English team. [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. Benaud hit a ball into the covers and the pair attempted a quick single when a direct hit from Joe Solomon saw Davidson run out. She rushed to St Vincent's Hospital where he was having his mouth stitched. By Andrew McGarry. [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. Wonderful cricketer, great captain, a master craftsman commentator and top man. Death date: 10 April, 2015, Friday. While a move to preserve Benauds childhood home failed, he was honoured with a lifesize statue at the Sydney Cricket Ground, his spiritual home his actual homes having been in Sydneys Pacific-side suburb of Coogee, on the French Riviera and in London. Former Australia captain and legendary cricket commentator Richie Benaud has died at the age of 84. Then, within the year, Richie Benaud became captain of his country. 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. The chairman of selectors, Sir Donald Bradman, made it clear that he was keen to see Test cricket rescued from a period of dull introversion, and the two captains approached the series in a positive frame of mind. [72] Benaud then took four wickets in the drawn Fifth Test to end the series 21. Australia had fallen to 6/92 on the final day chasing a target of 233 with Benaud and Davidson at the crease. He had brought novel flashes of exhibitionism into play on the cricket field, racing over to embrace a fieldsman after a catch, his own shirt unbuttoned almost to the navel. [citation needed], Benaud took over when Australian cricket was in a low phase with a young team. [4] The First Test at Edgbaston was drawn with Benaud taking three wickets. When I was a kid we never ever wore a cap because Keith Miller never wore a cap, Benaud said at the time. ", Benaud married Marcia Lavender in 1953 and had two sons, Greg and Jeffery, from this marriage; he divorced Marcia in 1967. 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. 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. [7], In his early career, Benaud was a batting all-rounder, marked by a looping backlift which made him suspect against fast bowling but allowed him to have a wide attacking stroke range. In the previous seasons when he and his team were at their peak, he had scored 636 runs at 31.8 with taken 108 wickets at 20.27 in eighteen Tests, averaging six wickets a match. Benaud, born in Penrith, New South Wales, enjoyed a successful career as a wily leg-spin bowler and middle-order batsman. Selected as a batsman who could bowl, he had totalled 309 runs at 15.45 without passing 50, and taken 23 wickets at 37.87 with only two four-wicket innings hauls. 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. He still managed to say I do quite firmly. Benaud went around the wicket and bowled into the footmarks, having Dexter caught behind and then Peter May bowled around his legs. It came from Jeff and I'm glad he told me because I didn't know why.'. They were booed and heckled as they left the field and Benaud's reputation as a "go ahead" cricket captain was badly tarnished. 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. Richie Benaud became a household name for a whole new generation when he moved from the oval to the commentary box. Their faith was rewarded by an improvement in performances. Following the divorce hearing in the NSW Supreme Court, Richie Benaud was required to pay Marcia and her sons ten pounds per week. In England, Richie met Daphne Surfleet, who had worked for the English cricket writer E. W. Swanton. After retiring, Benaud became a commentary icon, with the BBC and later for Channel 4 in the UK and also in his native Australia. [7] In the opening match of the season, he struck 158 and took 5/88 and 1/65 against Queensland. Craig had fallen ill, and just when the senior player, Neil Harvey, was expected to succeed to the leadership, Benauds name was announced. 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 carefully tended coiffure. [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. We'd have baked dinners on a Sunday at their houses.'. He had been receiving treatment for skin cancer since November. 'It was a 6pm wedding. [37] At this stage of his career, he had yet to perform consistently with bat and ball simultaneously, apart from his breakthrough series in the Caribbean. Early in his career, he hit 100 runs against the West Indies in 78 minutes, the third fastest Test century of all time (in terms of minutes at the crease, not balls faced) and the second fastest by an Australian. When live Test cricket disappeared from the BBC in 1999 he moved to Channel 4, and when terrestrial broadcasting ended in 2005 he refused to switch to pay TV. He was buried on April 15 in a private funeral ceremony attended only by immediate family members. 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'. It was presented to his wife. [28] Benaud had contributed 246 runs at 41 and taken wickets steadily to total 18 at 26.94. [111], It was announced on 15 November 2009, that Benaud had signed a three-year contract with the Nine Network to continue being part of their cricket coverage until 2013, although his role would change from that of ball-by-ball commentary. BBC Radio 5 live pays tribute to Richie Benaud. 'But it suited [Richie] to keep it quiet, and so that's how it was kept.'. [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. There would be very few Australians who have not passed a summer in the company of Richie Benaud. I made chicken soup and we had roast chicken and salad. Coupled with his subtle variations in flight and angle of the delivery, he kept the batsman under constant pressure. [36] His batting was reliable, with 227 runs at 32.47. Benaud stated he would spend the Northern Hemisphere summer in Britain writing, and would continue working for the Nine Network in Australia. Although both sons played cricket at the private boys school they attended, Barker College in Sydney's northern suburbs, neither went on to play representative cricket after school like their father and grandfather. Marcia Lavender was a shorthand typist from Strathfield in Sydney's inner west and working at a chartered accountants office in Sydney's CBD where young cricketer Richie Benaud was trying to make a career. [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. The pharmacist, Ivan James, suggested a treatment with calamine lotion and boracic acid. Marcia had thought Richie's hanging up of the bat would bring him home. A personal letter from Richie Benaud to a young English leg-spinner almost 20 years ago has emerged as a touching example of the great cricketer's personal qualities and deep respect for his fans. On March 29, 1967 Marcia divorced Richie Benaud on the grounds of desertion. ', Marcia said she waited two years to get divorced, 'because of my sons.' However, cricketers like Shane Warne, Ian Chappell, Michael Clarke among several others visited his commemoration service on the same day. This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 20:19. National Archives of Australia, A1200, L33209. 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. Will always be remembered and admired. [7] Benaud was the only bowler selected for all five Tests of the 195455 series when England visited Australia. Oscar Cainer tells all. Benaud, who was born in Penrith, just west of Sydney, into a family of Huguenot origin, had a keen cricketer for a father. When, a few months later in England, Benaud took veteran Ray Lindwalls advice and bowled his leg-spin around the wicket into the rough, when all seemed lost in the Old Trafford Test, his wicket-taking that afternoon ensured that Australia retained the Ashes and raised the captain close to sainthood in the estimation of his team and his country. 65/-. His selection was frequently questioned in those early years, when much other flowering talent was evident in domestic cricket. However, he did not have much success in his five games, taking only five wickets at 54.00. He also made 113 against the touring side for the Prime Minister's XI. Lou Benaud, who had once taken all 20 wickets in a bush match, keenly and wisely guided his two sons. [51] Benaud contributed 132 runs at 26.4 and 31 wickets at the low average of 18.83,[29][36] as well as his shrewd and innovative captaincy. Benauds crew cruised to a 4-0 victory, the skipper taking 31 wickets for an average of 18.83 runs each. In 1963 he became the first player to complete the Test double of 200 wickets and 2,000 runs. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Richie Benaud. [7], At this stage of his career, he had played 13 Tests with mediocre results. He defined an era with conviction and sincerity.". 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. 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 was buried on April 15 in a private funeral ceremony attended only by immediate family members. Yes! His final commentary in England came during the 2005 Ashes series, but he continued to work for Channel Nine in Australia until 2013. [31], The 196162 Australian season was purely a domestic one, with no touring international team. He was a one-off., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. (Adds reaction) SYDNEY, April 10 (Reuters) - Reaction to the death of former Australian cricket captain and commentator Richie Benaud, known as the 'Voice of Cricket'. Biography - A Short Wiki Greg Benaud said he and brother Jeffrey met Australian Test players, such as Alan Davidson and Arthur Morris, who his father invited round for team meetings in the garage of the Beecroft home, 'starting off with Davo leading a prayer and then they would discuss tactics and show 8mm home moves of games'. 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. John, who played in three Tests, was 13 years younger. Ritchie Benaud pictured in 2004, when he was commentating for Channel 4. 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. 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. [108], Benaud's distinctive speaking style has been frequently parodied on the Australian comedy series Comedy Inc. and The Twelfth Man. [7], For the next season, England toured Australia, and with the Test players back, Benaud was initially forced out of the team. Benaud enjoyed a long association with the BBC following his first radio appearance for the corporation in 1960. Overall he played in or commentated on approximately 500 Test matches, as he himself noted in one of his final interviews in Britain when asked if he would miss Test cricket. His first series as skipper was remarkable for a number of reasons. [31] He was unable to maintain the standards he had set in the West Indies, contributing little apart from the Lord's Test. 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. But some of them played below expectation, and Australias attack contained several bowlers whose actions were perceived as highly suspicious. He took up a journalism position with the News of the World,[98] beginning as a police roundsman before becoming a sports columnist. He helped the Australian team have the attitude where they wanted to win. [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. 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. 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. Richie Benaud: Former cricketer and broadcaster dubbed 'The voice of cricket' dies, aged 84. Birth date: 6 October, 1930, Monday. In 2017, the Australian Mint issued a 50-cent coin commemorating Benaud. Last updated on 10 April 201510 April 2015.From the section Cricket. He made 1 in the second before a last-wicket partnership between Davidson and Graham McKenzie of 98 yielded a defendable target. 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. 'Dad thought it was important not to cut us off from our grandparents,' Greg said, 'and so we kept in contact with Nan and Pa Benaud and Nanna and Grandpop Lavender and continued to visit them when Dad was overseas. [105] It was also emulated by New Zealand broadcaster John Campbell. Like all fans of the sport, I will miss him very much.. Greg joked that before his father's death he had visited him and gained some style advice for the funeral. 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). His first BBC radio commentary came in 1960, followed by his first television appearance three years later. [6] At the start of the 194950 season, he was still in the Second XI, but when the Test players departed for a tour of South Africa soon afterwards,[7] vacancies opened up. He was 84 years old. 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. Richie Benaud died on April 10, 2015, after being diagnosed with skin cancer. [38] Early in the tour, when the team visited Timaru to pay a minor match, Benaud went to a pharmacy to see if he could get something to soothe his spinning-fingers, which had been torn by his spinning action for many years. Australia won the series 21, and although Benaud was below his best, scoring at 21.77 and taking 23 wickets at 33.87,[29][36] the series was a success for cricket. He keeps him pinned down, probing and probing until the victim is well and truly enmeshed. 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. It was screened before Australias Test series against India last December. Benaud had a heavy load in the match, taking 8/199 after Davidson tore a hamstring mid-match. 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. Source: Cricinfo, 22 December 2007. 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. But he had been a distinguished performer for Australia on the cricket field himself, playing for his country for 12 years until 1964. Greg said that instead of cricket he chose to study architecture after leaving school in 1972, but never finished his degree 'for various reasons I can't talk about' said he had 'worked at various things, any job'.