On The Cricket Pitch

England bids fond farewell to Richie Benaud

by Philip Hackett

Friday,  September 16, 2005

While Australia was saying goodbye to the Ashes, England was bidding farewell to Australian commentator Richie Benaud.

Benaud, who made his television debut as a commentator in England over four decades ago, will no longer be a part of the television coverage during the English summer. He will however continue to work in a similar capacity in Australia, but English viewers will no longer enjoy his insightful comments during their summer season.

The move is related to the fact that Channel Four is being replaced by Sky from next season. Benaud has opted not to join the new panel.

On Monday, the final day of the Ashes series, Benaud signed off by saying, “thank you for having me, It’s been absolutely marvellous. I’ve loved every moment of it.”

Benaud can leave safe in the knowledge that viewers have enjoyed his contribution to broadcasting cricket. Just a few weeks ago he was voted England’s favourite cricket commentator in a poll of nearly 12,000 fans. The poll was conducted by Wisden Cricketer and Cricinfo and Benaud received 10,000 votes, 3,000 more than West Indian Michael Holding, who placed second.

In typically modest fashion, Benaud told Wisden Cricketer’s editor John Stern, “All these things are nice, but you’ve got to bear in mind that out there – and I do have correspondence to confirm this – there are others who don’t have me at the top, who say why don’t you talk more, why don’t you do this or that. Everyone has their own idea about commentating.”

While Benaud is obviously right in acknowledging that ‘you can’t please all of the people all the time’ it is hard to avoid respecting his unique dignified style of presentation especially in light of the self promoting approach of many of his peers. I have always enjoyed his undemonstrative enthusiasm and the manner in which he is able to speak with authority without being arrogant and superfluous.

Benaud has been especially valuable in this current era in which commentators often forget that the focus should be placed on the players competing in the middle and the viewers. Many of them use their access to the microphone to reminisce about their own exploits, even when these do not relate to what is happening on the field.

Past involvement in cricket, especially at the international level, gives a commentator the tools to enrich his presentation, but when the commentator becomes the focal point, the privilege of broadcasting is being abused.

The 74 year old Benaud, who took 248 wickets at 27.03 as a leg spin, googly bowler and scored three centuries and nine fifties (ave. 24.45) in 63 Tests, believes the just-concluded Ashes series ranks among the top contests he has experienced.

Benaud revealed this in an interview with Cricinfo’s UK editor Andrew Miller.

“I always thought that there have been two or three bests, really. The best Test series in which I played was the tied Test series when Frank Worrell brought his side to Australia in 1960-61 - that was the best from a playing point of view. The best as a commentator for me (and Jim Laker and I always agreed on this) was the 1981 series, and in particular the match at Headingley, Botham’s match. And from a totally selfish point of view, the match I most enjoyed was Old Trafford 1961 when we came from nowhere and managed to retain the Ashes. Now, it’s my view – and people may disagree with it – but I think this series shades the 1981 tour. And that’s saying something, because a long time has passed since then. I’ve always held the view that ‘81’ was the best, but now I think that this series has just gone ahead of it in my mind.”

Like the Ashes series, Benaud is also among the best. He has maintained a standard of excellence that will be a challenge for others to emulate. Well done Richie Benaud!.

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