Richie Benaud Australia (AUS)
Batting style	Right-handed batsman (RHB)
Bowling type	Leg spin
	Tests	First-class
Matches	63	259
Runs scored	2201	11719
Batting average	24.45	36.50
100s/50s	3/9	23/61
Top score	122	187
Balls bowled	19108	60481
Wickets	248	945
Bowling average	27.03	24.73
5 wickets in innings	16	56
10 wickets in match	1	9
Best bowling	7/72	7/19
Catches/stumpings	65/0	254/0
Test debut: 25 January 1952 Last Test: 7 February 1964 Source: [1] Image File history File links Flag_of_Australia. ... Image File history File links Richie Benaud at Sharjah cricket ground 1998. ... Warwickshire batsman Mike Powell A batsman in the sport of cricket is, depending on context: Any player in the act of batting. ... In the sport of cricket there are two categories of bowler: pace bowler and spin bowler. ... Animation of a leg break. ... A Test match in progress. ... First-class cricket matches are those between international teams or the highest standard of domestic teams in which teams have two innings each. ... Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively. ... M*A*S*H, see Sticky Wicket (M*A*S*H episode). ... Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket. ... An innings, or inning, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably baseball and cricket – during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. ... In the sport of cricket, the term stump has three different meanings: 1. ... January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ...

Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE (born October 6, 1930 in Penrith, New South Wales) is a former Australian cricketer. Undoubtedly one of the greatest leg-spinners to have played Test cricket, since retiring from international cricket in 1964 he has become the most recognisable and popular commentator in the game. Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire (Military division) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority... October 6 is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years). ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... Penrith is a suburb in the City of Penrith in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... For the insect, see Cricket (insect). ... A Test match in progress. ...

Gideon Haigh described him as "... perhaps the most influential cricketer and cricket personality since the Second World War."^[1] In his review of Benaud's autobiography Anything But, Sri Lankan cricket writer Harold de Andrado wrote: "Richie Benaud possibly next to Sir Don Bradman has been one of the greatest cricketing personalities as, player, researcher, writer. Critic, author, organiser, adviser and student of the game."^[2] This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Harold de Andrado (30 December 1927 - 5 November 2004) was a Sri Lankan cricket writer and journalist. ... Sir Donald George Bradman (August 27, 1908 - February 25, 2001) was an Australian cricket player who is universally regarded as the greatest batsman of all time, and one of Australias greatest popular heroes. ...

He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1961 for services to cricket. Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire (Military division) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority...

In 2007, he was inducted in the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame at the Allan Border Medal award evening. The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame is a part of the Australian Gallery of Sport and the Olympic Museum in the Melbourne Cricket Ground. ... The Allan Border Medal is considered to be the biggest individual prize in Australian Cricket. ...

Cricket

In 1948 at the age of 18 he made his first-class cricket debut playing in a Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales against Queensland in Sydney. First-class cricket matches are those between international teams or the highest standard of domestic teams in which teams have two innings each. ... The Pura Cup (formerly known as the Sheffield Shield) is the domestic first class cricket competition in Australia. ... The New South Wales Blues are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales. ... The Queensland Bulls are the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket team in both 4-day tournaments (the Pura Cup) and 1-day tournaments (the ING Cup). ...

Benaud played as a right-handed leg-spin all-rounder in a total of 259 first-class games until 1964, including 63 Tests, 28 as captain. He made his Test debut against the West Indies in Sydney in 1952, playing in only 1 match of the series and taking just 1 wicket. Animation of a leg break. ... In cricket, an all-rounder is a player who is good at both batting and bowling. ... First-class cricket matches are those between international teams or the highest standard of domestic teams in which teams have two innings each. ... Australia played in the first-ever Test match in cricket in 1877, the first-ever one-day international in 1971 (both against England) and the first-ever Twenty20 international in 2005 (against New Zealand). ... Learie Constantine, was one of the first great West Indian players. ...

Several years of solid but unspectacular Test cricket followed in Australia as well as tours to the West Indies, England and Pakistan. However, in the 1957-58 tour of South Africa he took 30 wickets including three 5-wicket hauls at an average of 30.93. He also made 329 runs at a batting average of 54.83. The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ...

Benaud was appointed captain for the 1958-59 Ashes series in Australia taking over from Ian Craig whose career had been cut short through illness. He and his team recovered the trophy after three previous series had failed to do so, and successfully defended them twice. The Ashes is a Test cricket series, played between England(the mighty mighty england, barmy army barmy army) and Australia - it is international crickets oldest and most celebrated rivalry dating back to 1882. ... Ian David Craig (Born June 12, 1935 at Yass, New South Wales) is a former Australian Test cricketer. ...

In the 1961 Ashes series in England he suffered a serious shoulder injury early in the first Test and was unable to play for the remainder of the match or the second Test. After a draw, a win and a loss, the series was in the balance going into the fourth Test at Old Trafford. By the last day, England seemed to have a comfortable lead. Benaud's match-winning bowling and astute leadership proved to be the decisive factor. By bowling his leg breaks round the wicket into some rough created by footmarks left by the English team, he took 6-70 to secure an Australian victory by 54 runs. The 1961 Australian cricket tour of England began with a three day match versus Worcestershire CCC at the County Ground, New Road, Worcester on Sat 29 April, play continuing on Mon 1 May and Tues 2 May. ... Old Trafford cricket ground has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since 1856. ...

Australia won the series by drawing the final Test at The Oval and it confirmed a supremacy over England that would endure throughout the decade. The famous gasometers, which are now listed buildings. ...

During his captaincy he never lost a series and in 1963 became the first Test player to complete the double of 200 wickets and 2,000 runs. He is one of only 10 Australian cricketers to have scored more than 10,000 runs and taken over 500 wickets in first-class cricket. First-class cricket matches are those between international teams or the highest standard of domestic teams in which teams have two innings each. ...

He ended his Test career in Sydney with statistics of 248 wickets (the Test record at that time) at 27.03 and 2,201 runs at 24.45.

Cricket career highlights

• Early in his career, he hit 100 runs against the West Indies in 78 minutes, the third fastest Test century of all time and the second fastest by an Australian.^[3]
• Benaud was one of Jim Laker's victims in his famous record 10-wicket innings/19-wicket match at Old Trafford in 1956. He made 0 and 18.
• Benaud was in charge for the inaugural 1960-61 Frank Worrell Trophy against the West Indies - a series that included the famous Tied Test.
• Benaud's highest Test batting score of 122 was made against South Africa, Johannesburg, 1957-1958
• His best Test bowling effort of 7 for 72 was against India, Chennai, 1956-1957
• He captained Australia in 28 Tests: 12 wins, 12 draws, 4 losses

James Charles (Jim) Laker (February 9, 1922, Frizinghall, near Bradford, Yorkshire–April 23, 1986, Putney, London) was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s. ... Old Trafford cricket ground has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since 1856. ... The Frank Worrell Trophy is awarded for the winner of the West Indies - Australia test match series in cricket. ... Learie Constantine, was one of the first great West Indian players. ... In Test cricket, a Tie occurs when the aggregate scores of both teams are equal at the conclusion of play and the side batting last has completed its innings - all 10 batsmen will be out. ... City motto: Unity in Development Province Gauteng Mayor Amos Masondo Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... “Madras” redirects here. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Media career

After the 1956 England tour, Benaud stayed behind in London to take a BBC presenter training course. He took up a journalism position with The Sun, beginning as a police roundsman before becoming a sports columnist. In 1960 he made his first radio commentary in the United Kingdom at the BBC after which he moved into television. The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion... Look up sun in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

After retiring from playing in 1963, Benaud turned to full-time cricket journalism and commentary, dividing his time between Britain (where he worked for the BBC for many years, prior to joining Channel 4) and Australia (for the Nine Network). Overall he played in or commentated on approximately 500 Test matches, as he himself noted in one of his final interviews in Britain when asked if he would miss Test cricket. The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion... It has been suggested that Channel Four Television Corporation be merged into this article or section. ... The Nine Network is an Australian television network, available in major markets across Australia. ... A Test match in progress. ...

The idea for what became his trademark, wearing a cream jacket during live commentary, came from Channel 9 owner Kerry Packer, who suggested the look to help Benaud stand out from the rest of the commentary team. Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer AC (17 December 1937 – 26 December 2005) was an Australian publishing, media and gaming tycoon. ...

He also helped to design a computer based parody of himself available for download off Channel 4's website called Desktop Richie. It was developed by the software company Turtlez Ltd. Having downloaded this, cricket fans would be treated to live Test match updates and weather reports from a cartoon version of Benaud with real voice samples such as "Got 'im!" and "That's stumps... and time for a glass of something chilled." On Channel 4's live commentary, Benaud often makes sarcastic comments regarding the advertisement of Desktop Richie. It has been suggested that Channel Four Television Corporation be merged into this article or section. ... A cartoon is any of several forms of illustrations with varied meanings that evolved from its original meaning. ...

In 2004, Benaud starred in a series of television advertisements for the Australian Tourism Commission, aimed at promoting Australia as a tourist destination. Benaud's ad featured him in various scenic locations uttering his signature comment, "Marvellous!". He also appeared in Richie Benaud’s Greatest XI a video in which he chooses his own XI. A limited version was shown on the Nine Network after a match between Australia and Pakistan. Generally speaking, advertising is the paid promotion of goods, services, companies and ideas by an identified sponsor. ... Richie Benaud’s Greatest XI is the name of a 2004 cricket DVD and Video produced by Roadshow Entertainment and Channel 9 in which cricket commentators Richie Benaud and Mark Nicholas select a team of eleven cricketers from a short list of 33 players. ...

Benaud has become a staunch advocate of cricket's being available on free-to-view TV. He chose to end his British commentary career, which spanned more than 42 years, when the rights to broadcast live Test match cricket were lost by Channel 4 to the subscription broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting. Thus, the 2005 Ashes series was the last that Benaud commentated on in Britain. His final commentary came near the end of the final day of the 5th Test at The Oval. His last goodbye was interrupted by Glenn McGrath taking Kevin Pietersen's wicket; Benaud simply wove his description of the dismissal into what he was already saying. Benaud intends to continue spending the Northern Hemisphere summer in Britain writing, and will continue working for the Nine Network. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Ashes is a Test cricket series, played between England(the mighty mighty england, barmy army barmy army) and Australia - it is international crickets oldest and most celebrated rivalry dating back to 1882. ... The famous gasometers, which are now listed buildings. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Kevin Peter Pietersen MBE (born 27 June 1980 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa) is a cricketer, an attacking right-handed batsman and occasional off-spin bowler who plays for England and Hampshire. ... The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planets surface (or celestial sphere) that is north of the equator (the word hemisphere literally means half ball). On the Earth, the Northern Hemisphere contains most of the land and about 88-90% of the human population. ...

Benaud commentated for the BBC TV highlights of the 2006-07 Ashes in Australia, and continues to commentate in Australia for the Nine Network. The Nine Network is an Australian television network, available in major markets across Australia. ...

Benaud's book My Spin on Cricket was published in 2005.

His younger brother John, also played Test cricket for Australia. John Benaud (born May 11, 1944, Auburn, New South Wales) is a former Australian cricketer who played in 3 Tests from 1972 to 1973. ...

His commentating is frequently parodied on the Australian comedy series Comedy Inc. and The Twelfth Man. In the case of the latter, comedian Billy Birmingham's impersonations of Benaud on The Twelfth Man comedy recordings has become legendary, spanning over twenty years. Comedy Inc. ... The Twelfth Man (also known as The 12th Man) is the name for a series of comedy productions by Australian satirist Billy Birmingham. ... Billy Birmingham is an Australian humourist and sometime sports journalist, most noted for his parodies of Australian cricket commentary in recordings under The Twelfth Man name. ...

Personal life

In 1967 Benaud married Daphne Surfleet who had worked for the English cricket writer E. W. Swanton. Both had been married previously and Richie had two sons from an earlier marriage. They own an apartment in Coogee, New South Wales and a villa in the French Côte d'Azur where they spend about half of each year. Ernest William (Jim) Swanton CBE (11 February 1907 – 22 January 2000) is chiefly known for being a cricket writer and commentator under his initials, E. W. Swanton. ... Coogee from northern end of Coogee Beach Wedding Cake Island in Coogee Bay Coogee is a beachside suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... The Promenade des Anglais in Nice on the French Riviera at night. ...

Quotes

• Good morning everyone
• Captaincy is ninety percent luck and ten percent skill, but don't try it without that ten percent
• There were congratulations and high sixes all round
• Laird has been brought in to stand in the corner of the circle
• And it's time for a glass of something chilled
• Marvellous!
• Twenty-two for two (a reference to the comedy series The Twelfth Man in which humourist Billy Birmingham sends up the accent Richie uses to say "Twenty-two for two"

Ian David Craig (Born June 12, 1935 at Yass, New South Wales) is a former Australian Test cricketer. ... Australia played in the first-ever Test match in cricket in 1877, the first-ever one-day international in 1971 (both against England) and the first-ever Twenty20 international in 2005 (against New Zealand). ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Robert (Bob) Baddeley Simpson (born February 3, 1936 in Sydney, Australia) is a cricketer who played first-class cricket for New South Wales and Western Australia as well as Test cricket for Australia. ...

Notes

1. ^ Cricinfo player profile on Richie Benaud
2. ^ Cricinfo review of Benaud autobiography: Anything But
3. ^ Fastest Tests Centuries and 50s at Cricinfo

External links

• HowSTAT! statistical profile on Richie Benaud
• "Two for Twenty Two", Richie Benaud t-shirt