Friday, 10 April 2015

RIP Richie Benaud 6 October 1930 – 10 April 2015

Apologies for the non-wargames content, but...

As many of you will know, I am a cricket fan: today marks the passing of one of the voices of cricket, behind only perhaps the gravelly Hampshire tones of John Arlott, and the dry, laconic Yorkshire wit of Jim Laker:. I refer, of course to the great Australian leg spinner and commentator, Richie Benaud.

Those three were the voices I grew up with, from the BBC's Sunday League coverage (watched with my grandfather) to Test Matches up and down the country. Benaud's commentary was always incisive, observant and well-informed, as befitted a former Australian test player and captain, and his delivery and accent just gave you that sense that you were in good hands. He was also a man of principle, calling time on his British commentary career when Test cricket went to Sky, as he felt that cricket should be free to air. (And for all that I have a Sky Sports subscription, I agree with him.)

Richie Benaud was a part of the soundtrack of my life. He will be missed.

3 comments:

  1. So well put. "part of the Sound track of my life" too. Sadly missed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. As an Aussie I have spent literally years worth of my life listening to him commentate games. He will indeed be missed

    ReplyDelete

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