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LEGENDS WE LOST IN 2015: Richie Benaud

28th December, 2015
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Richie Benaud has passed away at the age of 84. (Photo: AAP)
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28th December, 2015
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I will forever be in debt to Richie Benaud – legendary cricketer, legendary commentator-writer, an iconic Australian, and one helluva good bloke.

Richie died this morning, aged 84 – none of the salutes to follow will do him justice.

But I’ll try.

Without any pre-knowledge, Richie popped into my life, and on all three occasions, my life changed dramatically for the better.

The first was at Mosman Oval, I had just been appointed Mosman first grade captain, when former Test captain Ian Craig relinquished the honour, but still kept playing.

I was wondering what captaining an Australian Test captain would be like when I saw the next round was against Cumberland, led by the then current Australian Test captain Richie Benaud, who took over from Ian.

In those days Test men regularly played first grade, so it wasn’t unusual.

But it was very unusual for me, heading for the centre to toss with the Australian captain.

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To be honest, I don’t remember much about that game, it was such a blur for a 21-year-old rookie captain. But I do recall Richie being very supportive as we walked to the centre, he shook my hand and congratulated me on the captaincy, wished me luck as I tossed which he promptly won, and batted.

We chatted all the way back to the pavilion, as we did after stumps over a beer. He was, as those who had the privilege to know him, just one one helluva good bloke.

The second time was extraordinary.

I had started writing a once a week cricket column called “Straight Hit” as a contributor for The Sun, where Richie was the senior cricket writer.

Suddenly there was an enormous blow-up at Fairfax, where journos were dropped a grade so Fairfax wouldn’t have to pay the award increases.

Richie told The Sun to shove it, and went down the road that day to the opposition Daily Mirror. Needless to say the DM greeted Richie with open arms.

That was roughly 50 years ago.

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So The Sun was a cricket writer short, and that’s how I started with Norman Tasker at Broadway, covering both the cricket and rugby.

And from that point on I saw a lot of Richie Benaud.

The third time was very left field.

I had met Helen Ives, the wife of American singer Burl Ives – Helen was the owner of the Australian franchise for This Is Your Life.

She asked me to do the research and write the script for Richie’s This Is Your Life.

For those who don’t remember the show, the whole secret of its success was it’s secrecy.

So I rang Daphne, Richie’s wife, and told her of the plan, and she was terrific in its implementation over a period of about two months.

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The ‘trap’ was a Friday night taped interview I would do with Richie at Channel 7 to be aired on the Rex Mossop “Sportsaction” show on Sunday morning.

The interview was a ‘preview’ of the West indian tour of Australia.

I did the intro, introduced Richie, and around the corner came Mike Willesee, the host.

“As you know David, this is no West Indian preview, Richie Benaud, this is your life.”

Richie froze, and went to leave, but I gently placed my left shoe over his right, and said “sit back and enjoy it Rich, I wouldn’t do anything to embarrass you.”

Richie gave me a relieved smile, and thoroughly enjoyed the next hour or so of the show being taped for Sunday night.

So when I heard the terrible news Richie had died this morning, the memories came flooding back.

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But it took some time to stop the tears and try to do the great man credit for all he has done for me and the countless numbers like me.

They can tell their stories, and make their own salutes.

To the ever gracious Daphne, Richie’s younger brother John, and Richie’s two sons, The Roar‘s deepest sympathy.

What a damn shame Richie Benaud wasn’t knighted while he was alive, instead of knighting the Duke of Edinburgh.

This obituary of Richie Benaud was originally published here

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