Today Australian Cricket has lost a legend, Australia has lost an icon and Australians have lost a dear friend.

 

The most decent of men and the voice of all our summers has left us.

 

Richie Benaud was a captain his whole life: a leader on the field, a cool head in the tumult of World Series Cricket and the doyen of the commentary box.

 

Generations of Australian cricket lovers owe their passion for the game to Richie Benaud’s eloquence, his dry wit, his brilliant mind and his seemingly limitless store of anecdotes and remembrances.

 

In a profession that can lend itself to hyperbole and histrionics, Richie was always an island of calm understatement. When he spoke, we listened. For millions of Australians, Richie Benaud was cricket – the personification of our noble game.

 

Long before he spoke to us in our lounge rooms, Richie was already an icon. A dashing all-rounder, striking boundaries and bowling leg-breaks with his hair slicked back and shirt unbuttoned.

 

From young tyro, Richie became a courageous captain whose daring and sportsmanship helped revive and enrich test match cricket.

 

Age never diminished Richie, it strengthened him. Sadly now it has taken him from us.

 

Richie will be mourned by millions, not just in Australia but right around the world.

 

No-one will miss him more than the wife and family he adored so deeply, our hearts go out to them today.

 

All Australians give thanks for the life of Richie Benaud.

 

Our nation will not see his like again, but he will live forever in our treasured memory.

 

As the great man said so many times: marvellous innings, that.

 


FRIDAY, 10 APRIL 2015

 

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