Richie Benaud. Photo: Patrick Riviere/ Getty.
Yesterday we lost one of our great sports commentators, Richie Benaud. Richie was a former Australian Cricket Captain who after his retirement from the game, went into broadcasting and became the voice of cricket, on television in Australia. He initially started his broadcasting career in the U.K. and commentated cricket all over the world. When Kerry Packer developed the breakaway World Series Cup of cricket back in the 1970’s, Ritchie was installed as the anchor of the TV commentary team, and became one of the iconic sounds of the Australian summer over the last 5 decades. His distinctive voice and commentary style was the subject of many impersonators and comedians, but he was universally loved and respected by everyone, from his former team mates, to his commentary colleagues, to cricket fans and to television audiences.
“The key thing was to learn the value of economy with words and to never insult the viewer by telling them what they can already see”
“What I want most from being a television commentator is to be able to feel that, when I say something, I am talking to friends”
“Put your brain into gear and if you can add to what’s on the screen then do it, otherwise shut up”
“And Glenn McGrath dismissed for two, just 98 runs short of his century” – on the Australian bowler, famous for his ineptitude with the bat.
We’ll miss the calls of “Marvelous” “What a catch” “Two for 22” over the Christmas/ New Year Australian summers of cricket.
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