This memorial website was created in memory of Richie Benaud, 84, born on October 6, 1930 and passed away on April 10, 2015. Benaud played international cricket from 1952 to 1964, and Australia never lost a series under his captaincy (28 games). He defined an era with conviction and sincerity.". In all he missed a third of the matches due to injury. The next season saw the last of Benaud on the field of play, apart from some later charity matches and light-hearted private tours. One of Benauds last public contributions was a touching voiceover tribute to Phillip Hughes, who died when struck by a bouncer in November 2014. [97], In 2004, Benaud starred in a series of television advertisements for the Australian Tourism Commission, aimed at promoting Australia as a tourist destination. Richie Benaud remembered in private ceremony for friends and family, Richie Benaud dies aged 84 rolling reaction, Richie Benaud: archive match reports of his playing career, Richie Benaud: a personal reflection on a colossus of cricket, Cricket legend Richie Benaud his life in pictures. Benaud was born in Penrith, New South Wales, in 1930. Greg joked that before his father's death he had visited him and gained some style advice for the funeral. ", said: "Farewell Richie Benaud. Marcia had thought Richie's hanging up of the bat would bring him home. [29], At the start of the 196364 season, Benaud announced that it would be his last at first-class level. [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. from around the world following the news of Benaud's death. She remained in the Beecroft house as the boys grew up, seeing their father 'now and again for birthdays'. . 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. 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. In his final Ashes series, in 1962-63, the tempo reverted to that of the bad old days. Marcia Benaud described the times when Richie was overseas as lonely and trying. [7], The 195152 season saw a tour to Australia by the West Indies. 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. [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. 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. [72] Benaud then took four wickets in the drawn Fifth Test to end the series 21. 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. But I won't be on the live commentary roster. Born October 6, 1930, Benaud was a legend by every definition on the book, but there . [70][71] With the series balanced at 11, the Fourth Test at Old Trafford initially brought no improvement, with Benaud scoring 2 and taking 0/80 in the first innings. Over the first years of their marriage, Benaud would tour overseas with the Australian cricket team to the West Indies, England, India, Pakistan and South Africa. 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. Tony Abbott offers family a state funeral for the former Australian leg-spinner, cricket captain and commentator. [59], Benaud had contributed 91 runs at 15.16 and 29 wickets at 19.59. There would be very few Australians who have not passed a summer in the company of Richie Benaud. Midway through the season, he played in Morris's XI in a testimonial match for Hassett, who captained the other team. After such an impressive playing career, he became even better known as a prolific author, columnist and commentator on cricket. But he had been a distinguished performer for Australia on the cricket field himself, playing for his country for 12 years until 1964. 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. Their faith was rewarded by an improvement in performances. 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. [7] Craig had fallen ill, and just when the senior player, Neil Harvey, was expected to succeed to the leadership, Benauds name was announced. In November, he revealed he was being treated for skin cancer. 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. 'It was very, very difficult.'. On a green pitch, Benaud came in at 7/96 and featured in a century partnership in only an hour,[14] making 43 himself. He was a one-off., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. 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? He spent two weeks in hospital for the surgery. 'He likes to keep his privacy.'. 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. [74] Benaud was the leading wicket-taker of the season with 47 at 17.97. On Channel 4's live commentary, Benaud often made sarcastic comments regarding the advertisement of Desktop Richie. Last updated on 10 April 201510 April 2015.From the section Cricket. 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. [4] Benaud took 5/72 and scored 43 in the First Test,[86] but then injured himself in a grade match, so Bob Simpson captained the team for the Second Test and won the match in Benaud's absence. Benaud was the first player to score 2,000 Test runs and take 200 Test wickets yet was as renowned for his captaincy. He was recalled for a match against the Englishmen. Although the shoulder injury had affected him, Benaud did produce a memorable piece of bowling in the New South Wales match against England, taking 7 for 18, his best figures in first-class 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. Cricket great Richie Benaud dies at 84 In October 2013, Benaud, then 83, was involved in a car crash and did not recover sufficiently to broadcast the Ashes series and in November 2014, he announced he was been treated for skin cancers. [10] He had more success with the bat, scoring 93 and narrowly missing a century against South Australia. His performances in South Africa in 1957-58 reinforced that belief. She and Richie Benaud had a second son Jeffrey in 1958, 'Dad said his cricketing commitments and distances for touring teams put strains on marriages.'. 'I would have liked to have gone [to the funeral]. 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. He finished the innings with 6/70. However, cricketers like Shane Warne, Ian Chappell, Michael Clarke among several others visited his commemoration service on the same day. He was shrewd not only from the weight of experience but in the cautious way he rationed opinions. 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. (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'. Benaud, a former Australian captain and cricketing commentator, was 84 when he died in April 2015 after battling skin cancer. He defined an era with conviction and sincerity. Benaud struck exactly 100 in the first innings, before taking 4/70 in South Africa's reply. They were booed and heckled as they left the field and Benaud's reputation as a "go ahead" cricket captain was badly tarnished. ", Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkaraexternal-link added: "So sad to hear about the passing of Richie Benaud. In fact they have shunned it. 'But I wasn't invited Rich asked that I not attend. 'I thought when he retired we would be a family together again,' she said. At the time, Ms Benaud said she was upset she hadn't been invited to her former husband's funeral. 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. Australia needed six runs from the final over, in which Benaud was caught and the last two wickets fell to run outs while attempting the winning run. [42] He followed this with 5/114 in a drawn Third Test,[43] before a match-winning all round performance in the Fourth Test in Johannesburg. A pioneering leg-spin bowler, Benaud played in 63 Tests, 28 as captain, before retiring in. Benaud enjoyed a long association with the BBC following his first radio appearance for the corporation in 1960. 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. Benaud led his country. 'He told me I should cut my hair for the funeral, but not to take toomuch off,' Greg told Daily Mail Australia. 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. Richie Benaud cricketer (1930-2015) . 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. 'But it suited [Richie] to keep it quiet, and so that's how it was kept.'. Benaud died late on Thursday . His final commentary in England came during the 2005 Ashes series, but he continued to work for Channel Nine in Australia until 2013. Benaud was cementing his position and was in the senior team for four consecutive matches even with the Test players available. They brought back all the old memories, sad ones. 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. Benaud embraced his players when opposition wickets fell, something that was uncommon at the time. RIP Richie Benaud." The 63 Test matches veteran was the first player to score 2,000 Test runs and take 200 Test wickets. He still managed to say I do quite firmly. "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! Then, within the year, Richie Benaud became captain of his country. [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. 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. 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. [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. 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. Benaud was given a chance against the visiting team when New South Wales played them in Sydney after the First Test. RIP Richie Benaud. 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'. [7] Although his form with the willow dropped off in his remaining six matches before the Testsa 35 was his only score beyond 20 in seven attemptsBenaud continued to strike regularly with the ball. [7], In the next match against South Australia, he made 48, took 4/93 and 1/29 and suffered three dropped catches by the wicketkeeper in successive balls. 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. Sprawling home where JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered in 1996 is listed for sale for $7 MILLION by current Royal Mail increase price of first class stamp by 15p to 1.10 in record-breaking hike. 'We have been comfortable and had a contented life here,' she said. SUBSCRIBE TO US He sustained a cracked sternum and shoulder injuries. It was screened before Australias Test series against India last December. But I will be doing all sorts of, what I regard as, interesting things for Channel Nine on the cricketspecial features on the cricket". They were different times and it was the right thing to do for them.'. 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. Elder son: Greg Benaud, 60, (pictured) at the public housing cottage he shares with his mother Marcia, who married Richie Benaud in 1953 and had two sons who would only see their famous father occasionally after their parents divorced, Glamorous: Marcia Benaud, in January 1953, following her marriage to Richie, after which the newlyweds went to the Adelaide Oval where the new Mrs Benaud is pictured, above, watching her husband play a Test against South Africa, Sons of the father: Richie Benaud pictured at the beach with his two sons, Jeffrey (left) and Greg (right) in the happier days of his marriage to first wife Marcia, when he was playing Test cricket for Australia, Young beauty: Marcia Lavender was a shorthand typist when she met cricketer Richie Benaud at a Sydney city accounting firm in the early 1950s and he went on to begin his Test career. ", Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbottexternal-link said Benaud's passing was "a sad day for Australia", adding: "We have lost a cricketing champion and Australian icon. Following the divorce hearing in the NSW Supreme Court, Richie Benaud was required to pay Marcia and her sons ten pounds per week. [7], On arrival in the British Isles, Benaud quickly made an impression with both bat and ball. He finished the first-class tour with 627 runs and 61 wickets at 23.54. 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. It was presented to his wife. Marcia Benaud spoke of her past with Richie with laughter and tears, but said although she believed he should have never left their marriage she has made a life of contentment, politely responding that she was 'the first wife' if people asked about her name, Richie Benaud, pictured shaking the hand of Queen Elizabeth II, before the start of play during his Test cricket years, which his first wife Marcia said led to some delightful occasions, including her invitation to dine with the Queen on the Britannia when in Sydney. "[94], After the 1956 England tour, Benaud stayed behind in London to take a BBC presenter training course. or debate this issue live on our message boards. 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. A strong England party, led by Peter May, were widely expected to retain the Ashes. [91] In 196768 he captained a Commonwealth team against Pakistan, playing in his last five first-class fixtures. 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. 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'. Six further wickets in the drawn Third Test saw Benaud end the series with 84 runs at 28 and 18 wickets at 21.11. 'It's obviously been a bit of a strain over the years with Mum and Dad, but Daphne was very kind. He played three Tests against South Africa in 1963-64 under his successor as captain, Simpson, whacking a memorable 90 on his home ground, Sydney, having calmly endured the trauma at the start of the season of captaining for the last time while his key fast bowler, Ian Meckiff, was repeatedly called by umpire Colin Egar for throwing. 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. His success was based on his ability to attack, his tactical boldness and his ability to extract more performance from his players, in particular Davidson. 'It was a 6pm wedding. [31] Benaud and Daphne often stayed at their holiday home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. 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 . Benaud returned and scored 37 and took a total of 2/68 in the final match, ending the season with 184 runs at 36.80 and 11 wickets at 34.63. 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. [7], After returning home from his first overseas tour, Benaud was prolific during the 195354 Australian season, which was purely domestic with no touring Test team. [8] He contributed significantly with both bat and ball in New South Wales' Sheffield Shield triumph, the first of nine consecutive titles. 581 Former Australia cricket captain and renowned commentator Richie Benaud has died aged 84. [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. '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! 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. 1930 - 2015. That TV commentary style lent itself to much mimicry, and his pronouncements, carefully rationed, were widely regarded as gospel. In a one-off Test against Pakistan in Karachi, he scored 56 and took 1/36 as Australia fell to defeat. After scoring 60 and 37 and taking 1/60 in an Australian XI against the South Africans following the Test, he was selected for the Second Test. [7] In the opening match of the season, he struck 158 and took 5/88 and 1/65 against Queensland. [1], Gideon Haigh described him as "perhaps the most influential cricketer and cricket personality since the Second World War. When I was a kid we never ever wore a cap because Keith Miller never wore a cap, Benaud said at the time. Benaud scored 78 and 68 and took a total of 5/238, his dismissals being Davidson and frontline Test batsmen in a 121-run win. Yes! He was attacked by the touring batsmen, taking 1/75 from 16.5 overs in his first outing against an international outfit. Benaud built his reputation as a commentator following an outstanding playing career in which he took 945 wickets in 259 first-class matches and made 11,719 first-class runs, scoring 23 centuries at an average of 36.50. Benaud led New South Wales throughout a dominant season, winning the Sheffield Shield with 64 of the 80 possible points. [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. He added another fifty and ended with 250 runs at 31.25. [4] The First Test at Edgbaston was drawn with Benaud taking three wickets. As a batsman, he was tall and lithe, known for his hitting power, in particular his lofted driving ability from the front foot. 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. 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; His first BBC radio commentary came in 1960, followed by his first television appearance three years later. She rushed to St Vincent's Hospital where he was having his mouth stitched. He was playing first class cricket in the Sheffield Shield series before being selected for his first test, against the West Indies in Sydney in 1952.