He was recalled for a match against the Englishmen. 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. [97], After retiring from playing in 1964, Benaud turned to full-time cricket journalism and commentary, dividing his time between Britain (where he worked for the BBC for many years before joining Channel 4 in 1999), and Australia (for the Nine Network). [24], Australia's selectors persisted and selected him for the squad to tour the West Indies in 195455. As per theguardian.com, Richie Benaud's Cause of Death was revealed that he died of Skin cancer. When it became clear that the cricketing legend was finally about to succumb to skin cancer, Daphne contacted Jeff and Greg Benaud. He was shrewd not only from the weight of experience but in the cautious way he rationed opinions. He had been battling skin cancer By Charlie Eccleshare Until. On March 29, 1967 Marcia divorced Richie Benaud on the grounds of desertion. 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. 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. [15] Hassett allowed him to bowl only in the second innings, when nine West Indian wickets had fallen and Australia were on the verge of an inevitable victory. Benauds crew cruised to a 4-0 victory, the skipper taking 31 wickets for an average of 18.83 runs each. 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. Link to video: Richie Benaud became a household name for a whole new generation when he moved from the oval to the commentary box. Following his retirement from international cricket in 1964, Benaud became a highly regarded commentator on the game. 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. Six further wickets in the drawn Third Test saw Benaud end the series with 84 runs at 28 and 18 wickets at 21.11. BBC Radio 5 live pays tribute to Richie Benaud. He had managed, in the 14 Tests since then, 559 runs at 27.95 and 67 wickets at 24.98. [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. "[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. 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. Five days later, he fronted Wesley Methodist Church in Strathfield, Sydney, still bearing the stitched wound. 'There was the odd phone call from England,' she told Daily Mail Australia. RIP Richie Benaud." The 63 Test matches veteran was the first player to score 2,000 Test runs and take 200 Test wickets. He was buried on April 15 in a private funeral ceremony attended only by immediate family members. Richie Benaud, ace all-rounder, captain, journalist, and doyen of commentators, passed away on April 4, 2015. [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. [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. [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. What an innings. 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. Pearce's XI at Scarborough. In the next four matches, Benaud passed 15 only once, scoring a 34, and took only seven wickets. He wrote a number of books, rather serious works written with little flourish, and there were two books about him, one by AG Moyes and a later study by Mark Browning. [7], For the next season, England toured Australia, and with the Test players back, Benaud was initially forced out of the team. Although Benaud preferred to avoid controversy, he waded in when covering Australias tour of the West Indies in 1965, taking eye-opening photographs of the fast bowler Charlie Griffith and writing of his concerns over the legality of the Barbadians action. [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. 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. ", 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. It was presented to his wife. [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. In addition to his accurate probing consistency, he possessed a well-disguised googly and topspinner which tricked many batsmen and yielded him many wickets. [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. Last updated on 10 April 201510 April 2015.From the section Cricket. ', 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.'. Benaud, Richard (Richie) (1930-2015) by Kersi Meher-Homji. There would be very few Australians who have not passed a summer in the company of Richie Benaud. Benaud had been battling skin cancer and recovering from the after effects of a car accident suffered . Talking about her marriage to the onetime Australian cricket captain, Ms Benaud's eyes filled with tears and she said: 'He shouldn't have left'. He was buried on April 15 in a private funeral ceremony attended only by immediate family members. Benaud, who was born in Penrith, just west of Sydney, into a family of Huguenot origin, had a keen cricketer for a father. 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. Benaud often spoke of a return to commentary but, to the great sadness of his legions of admirers, it did not materialise. Shane Warne death: Ian Healy not surprised by spin legend's passing in Benaud, whose witty one-liners from the commentary box resonated far beyond. I know Mum found it difficult to live on ten pounds a week. 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. 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. Benaud died peacefully in his sleep in a hospice, the Sydney Morning. [4], Benaud was not a large spinner of the ball, but he was known for his ability to extract substantial bounce from the surface. Such guarded humour as he evinced bore the touch of a man who was keen to be seen above all else as discerning. His final commentary came near the end of the final day of the Fifth Test at the Oval. [18][19] In another match for New South Wales against the touring team, he took a total of 5/95. [7] When I was a kid we never ever wore a cap because Keith Miller never wore a cap, Benaud said at the time. 'We have been comfortable and had a contented life here,' she said. He keeps him pinned down, probing and probing until the victim is well and truly enmeshed. "As a cricketer, commentator and as a person, you were the best there's ever been and, to top it off, an absolute gentleman. Richie Benaud - Bio, Personal Life, Family & Cause Of Death - CelebsAges [97], In 2004, Benaud starred in a series of television advertisements for the Australian Tourism Commission, aimed at promoting Australia as a tourist destination. A strong England party, led by Peter May, were widely expected to retain the Ashes. The opener at Brisbane delivered the thrill of crickets first tied Test match. His control was admirable, and when Benaud gets a batsman in trouble he rarely if ever gives him a loose one. How remorseless Stephen Bear continued his arrogant antics up until or debate this issue live on our message boards. As a captain, he never lost a Test series. [75] His aggressive tactical style brought large crowds throughout the season, with almost 18,000 watching one match against South Australia. 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. [88] His final two Tests saw no fairytale finish, yielding only four wickets and 55 runs. Richie Benaud's 90th birth anniversary celebrated in new Cricket Slow recovery meant he was unable to commentate for Australia's Channel Nine during the 201314 Ashes series. On a green pitch which was struck by a downpour on the opening day, Benaud's spin was not used by Arthur Morris, and he failed to make an impression with the bat in his only innings, scoring only two. The great voice of cricket is no more. They brought back all the old memories, sad ones. The Caribbeans were skittled for 134 in reply and went on to lose the match, although they attacked the young leg-spinner, who took 1/130 in total from 36 overs. Richie Benaud's Death - Cause and Date - The Celebrity Deaths Some tedious contests had been inflicted on the watching public, with more to follow in the 1960s. [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. However, cricketers like Shane Warne, Ian Chappell, Michael Clarke among several others visited his commemoration service on the same day. I used to go to matches and even went on the Hill in Sydney when he was batting with Norm O'Neill.'. Richie Benaud dies aged 84 - rolling reaction - the Guardian Marcia Benaud and Greg Benaud have launched legal action in the NSW Supreme Court challenging Richie Benaud's second wife Daphne for a slice of his multi-million-dollar estate. CNN Former Australia cricket captain and legendary broadcaster Richie Benaud has died at the age of 84. After his retirement from international cricket in 1964, he became a well-known commentator on the game. 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. The selectors persisted in Benaud despite his unproductive Test performances, selecting him for the squad for the 1953 Ashes tour of England. [7] His only wicket was that of the all-rounder Trevor Bailey. In 1960, he made his first radio commentary in the United Kingdom at the BBC, after which he moved into television.
