Former Australia captain Richie Benaud dies at the age of 84

                                                               

 

Former Australia captain Richie Benaud, the celebrated 'voice of cricket' in the commentary box, has died at the age of 84 after battling skin cancer.

A giant figure in the game both on and off the field,Richie Benaud died peacefully in his sleep in a Sydney hospital late on Thursday April 09,2015

Tributes are seen at the statue of Benaud at the Sydney Cricket Ground after his passing aged 84

After starting his career as a leg-spinning allrounder,Richie Benaud never lost a series as captain and led the side to three successive Ashes series victories in the 1950s and 1960s for 28 games

Richie Benaud was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1961 for services to cricket, led Australia in 28 of his 63 Tests and did not lose a series as captain

His adventurous leadership was encapsulated by the famous tied Test with the West Indies in Brisbane in 1960.
Australia were chasing 233 with 320 minutes of play left, and Benaud’s instinct was to go for an improbable win. He came in to bat at a perilous 92 for six and hit a rollicking 52, as Australia counter-attacked until a run-out on the last ball left the scores tied.


Richie Benaud played 63 Tests for his country and was the first player to score 2000 Test runs and took 248 Test wickets at an average of 27.03 and with a best of 7-72 against India in October 1956 and had a highest score of 122 in a remarkable career that saw him take five wickets 16 times

                                                                                    
                                                                             

  

After retirement in 1964, Benaud moved into commentary, first with the BBC in England and worked for BBC from 1963 to 2005

 

RICHIE BENAUD MILESTONES 

January 1952: Test debut against West Indies at Sydney Cricket Ground

January 1952: First of 248 Test wickets and 2,201 Test runs

December 1958: First Test as Australia captain, v England at Brisbane

Summer 1960: First radio commentary for BBC

December 1963: In his 60th Test, the first to 2,000 Test runs & 200 wickets

Summer 1963: First television commentary for BBC

February 1964: Final Test against South Africa at Sydney Cricket Ground

September 2005: Final commentary in England after 42 years

Richie Benaud pays tribute to Australian media mogul and cricket pioneer Kerry Packer after his death in 2005

Richie Benaud, pictured in 2006 during the launch of his book My Take on Cricket

He was the mainstay in Australian cricket television commentary until the past two southern summers, before announcing in November 2014 that he had skin cancer.
Richie Benaud led an acclaimed Channel Nine commentary team, which featured the late Tony Greig (left), Ian Chappell (second right) and Bill Lawry (right)

Australia offers state funeral for Richie Benaud

The Australian government has offered a state funeral to the family of former Australian cricket captain and legendary cricket commentator Richie Benaud, who has died aged 84.

Mr Benaud's family said he died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said there would hardly be an Australian over the past 40 years who hadn't listened to Mr Benaud on radio or television.

"He certainly will be very, very much missed," he said on Friday.

"He was a very, very effective cricketer, a great captain, a great character and great personality."

Benaud was born in Penrith, outside Sydney. All flags on New South Wales government buildings and establishments including the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be lowered to half-mast today.