Richie Benaud

canveyshrimper · Jun 8, 2009

I've just seen a note that he will be joining 5's highlights team to give his take on the Ashes series, although this will only be on the Saturday of the test matches. It will be good to see him back on our screens.

Slipperduke · Jun 8, 2009

"Morning everyone!"

BLUEBLOOD · Jun 8, 2009

Amongst my earliest cricket memories was "old rubber face" himself presenting the cricket on the tv .. a true icon of the sport :clap: :clap:

BrettieAngell · Jun 8, 2009

Agreed, Benaud is a legend!!

number11 · Jun 8, 2009

Legend. A master of his art.....needs no hyberbole, relying on a dignified, authoritative and knowledgable approach. Can't believe he is an aussie!

Bluesmanager · Jun 8, 2009

Good to hear, although am I the only one who thinks that "5"'s highlights are basically 4's but on 5? A bit of a redesign'd be nice.

number11 · Jun 8, 2009

Bluesmanager said:
Good to hear, although am I the only one who thinks that "5"'s highlights are basically 4's but on 5? A bit of a redesign'd be nice.

To be fair at the time they had the rights I thought Channel 4's coverage of cricket was the best television coverage there had been, across any sport.

Matt the Shrimp · Jun 17, 2009

number11 said:
Legend. A master of his art.....needs no hyberbole, relying on a dignified, authoritative and knowledgable approach. Can't believe he is an aussie!

I'd be so bold to suggest he's the greatest commentator in any sport, ever. He bestrides cricket commentary like no other.

There's a stat - perhaps apocryphal, but which may well have a grain of truth to it - that when you combine his playing career and his commentating career, he has been involved in some way with almost half of the Test cricket matches ever played. Remarkable.

One thing that sets him apart is a total lack of bias. There's a fantastic clip on YouTube (this may be it, although I can't check on my work computer) where Richie gives his thoughts about Greg Chappell's now infamous instruction to his brother, Trev, to bowl the last ball of an ODI match against NZ along the ground in order to prevent the Kiwis getting the six they needed to tie the game.

A more jingostic commentator may have applauded Chappell's cunning... but Richie shows his utter contempt for the act, calling it "disgraceful". It's a masterful piece of broadcasting - and demonstrates that, for Richie, cricket comes first, second and third, with nationhood a distant fourth.

:)

Top man.

canveyshrimper · Jun 17, 2009

Greatest commentator ever? It's a very tough call, certainly in my top 5. The Youtube link was a good find Matt, and the assessment by Benaud spot on. He also found the actions of Hansie Cronje contemptible, not surprising really.

He was a fierce critic of "Chucker" Charlie Griffith a West Indies quick of the 60's, Benaud was convinced that Griffith chucked his bouncer, and on the convicts 1965 tour of the WIndies called him for throwing from the commentary box. He then faced fierce criticism from the WIndies press for his view.

Returning to his attributes as a commentator it is definitely fair to say that he is probably the best ex sportsman that has made the transition from playing to commentating, his nearest rival IMO would be Peter Alliss.