Marcia Benaud, who always refers to her only husband as 'Rich' rather than 'Richie', spoke about the fantastic life she had with Benaud, the young Test cricketing star she had been married to in the 1950s and 60s, and their two sons she had sometimes struggled to raise in the years since. His first series as skipper was remarkable for a number of reasons. Three years later, against the West Indies at Sydney, he first played for Australia. [58] A further seven wickets from the captain in the Fifth Test saw Australia secure a draw and the series 21. He defined an era with conviction and sincerity. ', 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.'. 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. [47] Benaud's men won the Second Test,[48] before he took 5/83 and 4/94 in the drawn Third Test. Her son Greg told Daily Mail Australia that the pretty young brunette was 'one of Sydney's top three beauties', but Marcia passes that off, laughing, as 'nonsense'. If I knew, when I was at school and playing in my early cricket days, the problems that would have come if I didnt do something about protection of the head and using sunscreens and all sorts of things like that, Id have played it differently. RIP Richie Benaud. One of Benauds last public contributions was a touching voiceover tribute to Phillip Hughes, who died when struck by a bouncer in November 2014. Benaud's 5/13 in 25 balls instigated an English collapse which saw Australia retain the Ashes. [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. [80][81][82] Benaud returned to form with match figures of 5/142 and 57 in the Fifth Test at Sydney,[83] which ended in a draw when Benaud ordered Bill Lawry and Peter Burge to play out the last afternoon for a draw that would retain the Ashes. [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. Oscar Cainer tells all. [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. [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. Even worse, many such slurs aren't from men but 'I couldn't do it without you': Victoria Beckham poses with her whole family after her PFW show - as she Brooklyn Beckham puts on a loved-up display with wife Nicola Peltz as they head back to hotel after Cruz Beckham supports his mother Victoria as he carrying his very own VB handbag on the way to her show Like father, like daughter! [7] Benaud scored his maiden first-class century, 117 against South Australia, in the next match, two years after falling short of the milestone by seven runs. 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. It could have killed him if it had struck him where his skull was previously fractured. Marcia Benaud described the times when Richie was overseas as lonely and trying. Richie Benaud Cause of Death, How did Richie Benaud Die? His voice was even more present than the chirping of the cicadas in our suburbs and towns and that voice, tragically, is now still., British prime minister David Cameron said: I grew up listening to Richie Benauds wonderful cricket commentary. Do not sell or share my personal information. [100] He vacated the commentary booth when New Zealand was about to clinch a test victory at Lord's in 1999, allowing former New Zealand captain-turned-commentator Ian Smith to call the famous victory of his compatriots. [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. Ms Benaud said Richie hadkept in touch with their sons, but as the years went by they 'didn't see him as often'. In the case of the latter, comedian Billy Birmingham's impersonations of Benaud on The Twelfth Man comedy recordings have become very successful, spanning more than twenty years. Catches/ stumpings. [7] In the opening match of the season, he struck 158 and took 5/88 and 1/65 against Queensland. [36] His batting was reliable, with 227 runs at 32.47. 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. The unprecedented public interest saw the Caribbean touring party farewelled with a ticker-tape parade by the Australian public. Benaud often spoke of a return to commentary but, to the great sadness of his legions of admirers, it did not materialise. [7] [8] Selected as a batsman, he scored 3 and 19. [7] He was selected for an Australian XI match against England, in what was effectively a trial for Test selection, but suffered a chipped bone in his thumb. He ended with 121 and took four wickets in the match as Australia won by an innings and took the series 30. Greg joked that before his father's death he had visited him and gained some style advice for the funeral. SURPRISINGLY, there is a French Cricket Association. 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. Four years previously he had been hit in the face while batting for New South Wales 2nd XI in Melbourne. Cricket, commentary and the dollar: Benaud's legacy is complex Coupled with his subtle variations in flight and angle of the delivery, he kept the batsman under constant pressure. "[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]. [31], The 196162 Australian season was purely a domestic one, with no touring international team. Lou Benaud, who had once taken all 20 wickets in a bush match, keenly and wisely guided his two sons. [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. [45] He had been a major contributor to the series win, scoring 329 runs at 54.83 and taking 30 wickets at 21.93, establishing himself as one of the leading leg spinners of the modern era. Greg said that in the days before cricketers were well paid ''I tried to understand that Dad didn't have a lot to spare as fare as helping us. [19] It was thought that the surface at the Oval would favour pacemen, but Australia's selection proved to be a blunder[21] as England's spinners[22] took them to the only win of the series, allowing them to regain the Ashes. Richie Benaud's influence on cricket on and off the field is being lauded by players and fans alike, . How remorseless Stephen Bear continued his arrogant antics up until or debate this issue live on our message boards. Benaud, whose witty one-liners from the commentary box resonated far beyond. 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. [113][123], Benaud was buried on 15 April, in a private funeral ceremony attended only by his immediate family. Only seven runs were required with four wickets in hand as time was running short. [29], At the start of the 196364 season, Benaud announced that it would be his last at first-class level. 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. How did Richie Benaud Die? In fact they have shunned it. He was attacked by the touring batsmen, taking 1/75 from 16.5 overs in his first outing against an international outfit. Benaud was the first man to achieve 2,000 runs and 200 wickets at Test level. Wonderful cricketer, great captain, a master craftsman commentator and top man. When South Africa followed on, Benaud took 5/84, which left Australia needing only one run to win. "[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. 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. [79] This was followed by three unproductive Tests which yielded only 5/360 and a win apiece. Tony Abbott offers family a state funeral for the former Australian leg-spinner, cricket captain and commentator. He sustained a cracked sternum and shoulder injuries. 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. 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. Six further wickets in the drawn Third Test saw Benaud end the series with 84 runs at 28 and 18 wickets at 21.11. After such an impressive playing career, he became even better known as a prolific author, columnist and commentator on cricket. 'But it suited [Richie] to keep it quiet, and so that's how it was kept.'. Often bare-headed, and a somewhat stooping, rangy figure at the crease, he cracked a century in both the Johannesburg Tests, averaged 54 in the series, and took 30 wickets at a rate of just under 22 runs each in the five Tests. Former Australia cricket captain and renowned commentator Richie Benaud has died aged 84. 'There was the odd phone call from England,' she told Daily Mail Australia. He married Marcia in 1953 and had two children with her, Gregory and. [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). [7], In the next Shield match against Victoria, led by Australian captain Lindsay Hassett, Benaud came in for attack. Tributes have been pouring in from around the world following the news of Benaud's death. Australian Test captain Michael Clarke said Benaud was a gentleman who played cricket in the right spirit. Benaud went on to dismiss tail-ender Alf Valentine for his first Test wicket, conceding 14 runs from 4.3 overs. [77], 196263 saw an English team under Dexter visit Australia. Such guarded humour as he evinced bore the touch of a man who was keen to be seen above all else as discerning. Legendary Australian cricket commentator Richie Benaud has died. 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. 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. I've had enough of life': Grandmother, 86, is reduced to tears after killjoy Tory RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: As Florida governor and Donald Trump rival Ron DeSantis steps up his bid to win the Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers speaks out on his deep depression after chemotherapy which left him having 'How I snatched JK Rowling's baby out of her abusive husband's arms - and helped her flee with the Harry Top equestrian rider, 39, once known as the 'golden girl' of horse eventing, is facing jail after being A possum feared extinct is discovered by an amateur naturalist in Papua New Guinea being cooked on a Now California reparations panel RAISES amount it wants to give 1.8m black people from $220,000 to $360,000 My weekly horoscope: What will March 4th 2023 bring for MY star sign? ", Benaud married Marcia Lavender in 1953 and had two sons, Greg and Jeffery, from this marriage; he divorced Marcia in 1967. 'He likes to keep his privacy.'. 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'. Richie Benaud's Death - Cause and Date - The Celebrity Deaths [4] Educated at Parramatta High School, Benaud made his first grade debut for Cumberland at age 16, primarily as a batsman. Benaud was given a chance against the visiting team when New South Wales played them in Sydney after the First Test. [119] He died in his sleep on 10 April 2015. Benaud was born in Penrith, New South Wales, in 1930. At this point, Australia had already taken an unassailable 31 series lead and decided to try out some young players. Benaud was the first player to score 2,000 Test runs and take 200 Test wickets yet was as renowned for his captaincy. 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. RIP Richie Benaud. [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. Link to video: Richie Benaud became a household name for a whole new generation when he moved from the oval to the commentary box. Richie Benaud, ace all-rounder, captain, journalist, and doyen of commentators, passed away on April 4, 2015. [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. [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. whose family has been offered a state funeral after his death at the age of 84. Here is all you want to know, and more! When the time came for Richie Benaud's final departure, Greg and Jeff were given the opportunity to visit their father, and they informed Marcia who said she took the philosophical view 'that it might be God's will'. His instinctive, aggressive captaincy and daring approach to cricket and his charismatic nature and public relations ability revitalised cricket interest in Australia. Richie Benaud was a pioneering leg-spin bowler In the memorial booklet, Benaud's family described him as "a special person who means so much to each of us in many different ways". 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. The best of his career hung principally on the exhilharating Test series of 1960-61, when he captained Australia against the visiting West Indies side led by Frank Worrell. 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; 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'. [7] However, this was not enough to ensure his selection in the First Test, where he was made 12th man. 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. 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. Benaud's personal form was a major factor in this success. [29][36] The first two seasons of the Benaud captaincy had been a resounding success, with Australia winning eight, drawing four and losing only one Test. [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. [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. He still managed to say I do quite firmly. Benaud took 3/116 to complement scores of 43 and 90 on his return in the Third Test in Sydney. Yes! Benaud enjoyed a long association with the BBC following his first radio appearance for the corporation in 1960. His final commentary in England came during the 2005 Ashes series, but he continued to work for Channel Nine in Australia until 2013. I made chicken soup and we had roast chicken and salad. Richie Benaud dead | The Australian [75] His aggressive tactical style brought large crowds throughout the season, with almost 18,000 watching one match against South Australia. This put him in a small group of spinners whose career averages were inferior to their performances against India, generally regarded as the best players of spin in the world. [112], "This is the greatest loss for cricket since the loss of Don Bradman and for that reason I'm pleased to have offered the Benaud family a state funeral. She said that after their split, Richie Benaud had preferred to keep his past quiet and that she was not encouraged to call 'Coogee', the name she used to refer to Richie and Daphne Benaud when they were in Sydney at their apartment. 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. She remained in the Beecroft house as the boys grew up, seeing their father 'now and again for birthdays'. He was with us as a player, journalist . [28] Benaud had contributed 246 runs at 41 and taken wickets steadily to total 18 at 26.94. What an innings. [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. He scored 817 runs including four centuries, two of them in Test matches. 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. 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. He appeared in Richie Benaud's Greatest XI, a video in which he chooses his own team. Following his retirement from international cricket in 1964, Benaud became a highly regarded commentator on the game. [7], On arrival in the British Isles, Benaud quickly made an impression with both bat and ball. In England, Richie met Daphne Surfleet, who had worked for the English cricket writer E. W. Swanton. Benaud went around the wicket and bowled into the footmarks, having Dexter caught behind and then Peter May bowled around his legs. [11] He scored 20 not out and was not called on to bowl in the second innings. [92], During Benaud's captaincy, Australia did not lose a series, and became the dominant team in world cricket. But he had been a distinguished performer for Australia on the cricket field himself, playing for his country for 12 years until 1964. 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. Source: Cricinfo, 22 December 2007. In addition to his accurate probing consistency, he possessed a well-disguised googly and topspinner which tricked many batsmen and yielded him many wickets. 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. He was known for his unbuttoned shirt, and raised eyebrows with his on-field exuberance. 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. In 1958 he became Australia's Test captain until his retirement in 1964. There were good times when he was home at the family house in Beecroft, in Sydney's north. Australian cricketer who led his country in 28 Test matches and later became one of the worlds most respected commentators. He is survived by Daphne, by his sons, and by his brother, John. This memorial website was created in memory of Richie Benaud, 84, born on October 6, 1930 and passed away on April 10, 2015. Greg Benaud had just turned twelve and his brother Jeffrey was nine. [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". 'I watched all the broadcasts. Richie commentated regularly during the 201112 season and was part of Nine's commentating team/roster. [17] Benaud went on to play in the final four Tests. After his retirement from international cricket in 1964, he became a well-known commentator on the game. 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. 'When I heard that it was serious and Greg told me he had got [the cancer] in its bloodstream, I accepted that whatever God decided to do would be right,' she said. He led his country in 28 Tests and never lost a series as Australian captain. He also made 113 against the touring side for the Prime Minister's XI. [84][85] The draw meant that the series was shared 11, the first time he had drawn a series after five successive wins. [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. This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 20:19. He made 1 in the second before a last-wicket partnership between Davidson and Graham McKenzie of 98 yielded a defendable target. 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. 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.'. (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'. [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. In his final Ashes series, in 1962-63, the tempo reverted to that of the bad old days. As a captain, he never lost a Test series. 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. Richie Benaud - Wikipedia With an attacking partnership, the pair took Australia to within sight of the target. Death date: 10 April, 2015, Friday. ", 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. '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. 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. Benaud embraced his players when opposition wickets fell, something that was uncommon at the time. 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. 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. Its one of those things in life: you live and learn as you go along.. 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. [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 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. Australia never lost a series under the leg-spinning all-rounder's . Richie Benaud. 'It's obviously been a bit of a strain over the years with Mum and Dad, but Daphne was very kind. He helped the Australian team have the attitude where they wanted to win. Benaud, a former Australian captain and cricketing commentator, was 84 when he died in April 2015 after battling skin cancer. 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. [114][115], On 29 October 2008, Benaud's mother, Irene, died, aged 104. 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'.

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