Prime ministers and cricket legends paid tribute to iconic player and commentator Richie Benaud on Wednesday night as a book about his illustrious life was launched at the SCG.
The book, Richie – the Man Behind the Legend, contains almost 90 individual pieces including former prime minister Bob Hawke and cricketing greats Shane Warne, Steve Waugh and Sir Garfield Sobers.
Benaud, who died in April aged 84, was named as an honoree of the Bradman Foundation at the Bradman Gala Dinner, which followed the launch.
It was announced his place as patron of the Bradman Foundation, which he had held since 2002, would be taken by another former prime minister, John Howard.
“He was a person of extraordinary generosity, he patiently played golf with me at Avondale golf club one day and that takes an extraordinary degree of patience and generosity,” Mr Howard quipped.
In a recorded message played at the dinner, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Benaud captured the hearts and minds of generations of Australians.
“He was a legend on the field and he was a giant in the commentary box,” he said.
“To many, that iconic voice came to be the sound of the Australian summer and it plays in our minds even now.”
Among the many cricketing luminaries present at the dinner were Benaud’s former teammates, Neil Harvey and Alan Davidson, other Australian legends, Bob Simpson and Adam Gilchrist, and New Zealand champion Sir Richard Hadlee.
Davidson’s association with Benaud stretched over seven decades.
“I first played against Richie when he was 14 and I was 15,” Davidson told AAP.
“It’s funny how we both recalled the game so vividly. He remembers me bowling to him; I remember him batting against me.”
Asked if he succeeded in dismissing Benaud, Davidson said: “No way – he frustrated me.
“On the game, we were very similar. We both loved to win and hated losing and, if ever there was a chance of winning the game, the risk was worth it.”
Benaud’s widow Daphne and his younger brother John, another Australian Test representative, both spoke warmly about him.
“He was a lovely gentle person to be with, a fun person to be with,” Daphne said.
Said John: “I’ve never heard a bad word about him … an absolutely fantastic bloke.”
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