Full Name

Richard Benaud

Born

October 06, 1930, Penrith, New South Wales

Died

April 10, 2015, Sydney, New South Wales, (aged 84y 186d)

Batting Style

Right hand Bat

Bowling Style

Legbreak Googly

Playing Role

Allrounder

RELATIONS

(brother)

Other

Commentator, Journalist, Author

Few cricketers matured so gradually yet ripened so fruitfully as Richie Benaud. With little to show for his first six years in Test cricket, he blossomed as a fully fledged allrounder in South Africa in 1957-58, then flowered as a charismatic captain at home against England in 1958-59. He repossessed the Ashes, which his teams then successfully defended twice.

As a legspinner, he was full of baits and traps, and he batted and fielded with verve. His 71 wickets in India and Pakistan came in just 12 Tests, and at averages within hailing distance of each other either side of 20. Of his three Test hundreds, two came against South Africa in the one series, in 1957-58.

Yet it was his presence, as much as anything, that summoned the best from players: cool but communicative, he impressed as one to whom no event was unexpected, no contingency unplanned for.

The same applied to his journalism: terse, direct and commonsensical, and his broadcasting: mellow and authoritative. His wise head was sought by Kerry Packer ahead of World Series Cricket in 1977, conferring respectability on the breakaway professional circuit. A guru to Ian Chappell and Shane Warne among others, he was among the most influential cricketers and cricket personalities since the Second World War. That Benaud masks were among the more popular accessories in stands all over England and Australia long after he announced he was hanging up his mike in 2010, bore testament.

Benaud died in Sydney at 84, a fortnight after the final of the 2015 World Cup in Australia.

Richie Benaud Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAve100s50s6sCtSt
Tests63977220112224.45398650
FC259365441171918736.502361-2540

Bowling

FormatMatInnsBallsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveEconSR4w5w10w
Tests631161910867042487/7211/10527.032.1077.016161
FC259-60481233709457/18-24.732.3164.0-569
Richard Benaud

Explore Statsguru Analysis

Test

Debut/Last Matches of Richie Benaud

Recent Matches of Richie Benaud

MatchBatBowlDateGroundFormat
Australia vs South Africa11 & 34/118 & 0/2507-Feb-1964SydneyTest # 555
NSW vs South Aust76 & 120*3/77 & 2/3231-Jan-1964AdelaideFC
Australia vs South Africa7 & 340/101 & 0/1724-Jan-1964AdelaideTest # 553
NSW vs South Aust118 & 600/82 & 0/7917-Jan-1964SydneyFC
Australia vs South Africa43 & 903/55 & 0/6110-Jan-1964SydneyTest # 550

Photos of Richie Benaud

A tribute for Richie Benaud outside the SCG
Tributes pour in for Richie Benaud outside the SCG
Richie Benaud lookalikes at the SCG
Richie Benaud makes a point
Richie Benaud, Ian Chappell and Bill Lawry watch a presentation by the McGrath Foundation during tea in Sydney
Richie Benaud at the Sydney Cricket Ground