Richard “Richie” Benaud is to cricket what Ray Warren is to Rugby League, what Dennis Cometti is to Aussie Rules and what Anja Nissen was to this year’s season of Australian television’s most popular talent quest. The Voice. But it’s ailing.
The distinguished grey’s measured commentary style has been conspicuously absent from Nine’s ball-by-ball coverage for a while now having incrementally scaled back to a peripheral special comments role less demanding of his time and energy. His withdrawal from the commentary box was further expedited when he crashed his vintage 1963 Sunbeam Alpine into a wall whilst driving near his home in Coogee last year. He was hospitalised after suffering a broken sternum, as well as chest and shoulder injuries, and sat out the entirety of the network’s coverage of the 2013-2014 Ashes Test series.
In his absence, shit like this is happening. And it’s whatever the opposite of marvellous is.
Channel Nine boss David Gyngell seems to agree, apparently broaching the possibility of the 83 year old calling Australia’s upcoming series against India from his home in Coogee.
“That’s what I’ve put to him,” Gyngell told Fairfax. “If he’s not up to calling from the ground this summer, I’d like him to call from home. He’d be the ultimate armchair caller from the couch, wouldn’t he? I’d prefer to have him calling at the ground, but I would say that will be difficult. If I have my way, he will be calling it from his home but it is completely his decision.”
Of course, this is a dozen or so steps short of actually happening and wholly dependent on Benaud’s health concerns, the logistics involved and his willingness to return to the commentary box.
Still, Richie coming back? Marvellous plan, that.
Photo by Tom Shaw for Getty Sports
Via SMH
