Richie Benaud to stop commentating
Apart from a brief, meaningless stint at the BBC during the World Cup, we haven’t had Richie Benaud on TV in the UK for a good few years, but it was somehow reassuring to know that he was still leaving his trademark massive great pauses during every day of every Test Down Under.
Sadly, at the end of next season, Richie’s retiring from the commentary box. We’re not really prone to emotions, unless ‘getting distracted’ is an emotion, but this is a blow – an inevitable blow, but a blow nonetheless.
We don’t feel it’s overstating things to say that a small part of all of us will die the day Richie steps down. It will be a tiny part of the brain that responds to blue skies, lengthening days and Test cricket. It’s activated by a soft, familiar, Australian voice saying ‘good morning everybody.’
Subscribe to the King Cricket email updates
"It’s not that I’m lazy - it’s that I just don’t care"
Sad news KC – it means that my son and his (eventual) teammates will never know the joys of endlessly repeating “Marvelous day here at the MCG” and “2 for 242″ (chew for chew four chew) in the slip cordon.
I can’t imagine any of the recently retired Aussie players filling those boots…. but I bet Matthew Hayden’s thinking about trying.
My earliest memories of being transfixed by test cricket, from 1973, include the voice of Richie Benaud.
But I have got over the loss of Jim Laker and Tony Lewis, so I’ll get by without Richie as well.
He is/was a colossus of commentary though.
(I like the way that phrase sounds. Imagine it said out loud in Richie’s voice. “A colossus of commentary”……)
I do hope a CD is produced of Richie Benaud’s commentary/ruminations.
I have an old Cassette of Jonner’s radio commentaries and gaffs including ‘The laugh’ which is still very funny.I wonder if you can get it in CD?
Richie was great and is still available on UK tv – ESPN Classic (Sky 442).
But now he is a sad parody of a shadow of his former self. His commentary from down under these days sounds like an old man in a retirement home remembering Richie and doing an impression.
He needs to stop now, tragically.
I saw a full-page advert in an Australian cricket magazine a couple of years ago that said only:
“Marvellous effort, that.”
It remains impossible to think, say or read these three words in anything other than the great man’s voice.
I wonder if he sounds so weary now because he is surrounded by tits of the first order on the Aussie commentary team – I thought Sir Osis was bad enough on the Sky lot – but they are deeply deeply dreadful
My money is on Steve Waugh to take up the mantle. He chose the perfect time to leave UK broadcasting.
We don’t feel it’s overstating things to say that a small part of all of us will die the day Richie steps down. It will be a tiny part of the brain that responds to blue skies, lengthening days and Test cricket. It’s activated by a soft, familiar, Australian voice saying ‘good morning everybody.’
The most beautiful thing you’ve ever written KC. Makes me want to jump your bones. Hard.
i’m with ceci.
heals, tubby and gilly just don’t do it for me.
Bah. Bob Willis is the man.