RIP Richie Benaud

The voices of my childhood spoke in an Australian accent. I was born in London to Australian parents, whose Sydney twang was much imitated by school friends, more used to west London’s downward inflection. When I wasn’t listening to mum and dad I was watching cricket, and the voice of cricket was Richie Benaud.

Of course, there were other commentators alongside him, but none had the charisma and exoticness of the suntanned Australian who spent half his year in the UK. When playing with my brother in our backyard, the voice in which we commentated was Richie’s (with an occasional nod to John Arlott for variety).

Through the long period of the 80s, 90s and first half of the noughties when an English Ashes victory seemed – and was – a far distant prospect,  seemingly all rain delays in televised matches were filled by repeated showings of the highlights of the 1981 Headingley Test Match – Botham’s match.

This was both a high point for English cricket, and for cricket commentary. If there has been a better piece of commentary than Benaud describing a Botham six going “in to the confectionary stall…..and out again” I haven’t heard it.

News of Benaud’s passing will be greeted with sadness around the world, both now and in the months to come in what will be an English Ashes summer. He will be greatly missed.

Richie Benaud. Great effort, that.