Cricketing legend Richie Benaud, OBE (1930-2015)

As his father was a teacher at Burnside Primary School, Richie also enrolled and studied at Burnside. In Kate Shayler's (2011) compiled book Burnished: Burnside Life Stories, chapter 12 contains features Richie’s description of his time at Burnside as well as playing cricket as a youth. In 1942, he was enrolled as a student at Parramatta High School where his father was a former pupil of.

Playing cricket for Parramatta

All three Benaud boys played for Cumberland Cricket Club (now Parramatta Cricket Club). Richie and Lou have the honour of being the only father and son to have captured 300+ wickets in First grade. Richie, younger brother John and father Lou also have the distinct honour of being members of a very small band of father and sons to have captained Parramatta in First grade. At 16, Richie made his first grade debut for Cumberland, primarily as a batsman and later all-rounder.

His cricketing career highlights

• His best Test bowling effort of 7 for 72 was against India, Madras, 1956–1957
• Richie's highest Test score of 122 was made against South Africa, Johannesburg, 1957–1958
• For the inaugural 1960–61 Frank Worrell Trophy against the West Indies, Richie hit 100 runs against the West Indies in 78 minutes, the third fastest Test century of all time (in terms of minutes at the crease, not balls faced) and the second fastest by an Australian. This series included the famous Tied Test.
• In 1963 he became the first player to complete the Test double of 200 wickets and 2,000 runs.
• He captained Australia in 28 Tests: 12 wins, 11 draws, 1 tie, 4 losses
• He was one of only 10 Australian cricketers to have scored more than 10,000 runs and taken more than 500 wickets in first-class cricket.
• He ended his Test career in Sydney with statistics of 248 wickets (the Australia Test record at that time) at 27.03 and 2,201 runs at 24.45.

First marriage - injured groom

On 15 January 1953, Richie married his first wife Marcia Lavender at the Wesley Methodist Church on Concord Road, Strathfield while sporting stitches to his upper lip having been struck in the face by South African John Waite fielding at short-gully the previous day of his wedding ceremony. The union produced two sons: Greg in 1955, and Jeffery in 1958. The young family settled in Beecroft. Over the course of their marriage, Richie would tour overseas with the Australian cricket team to the West Indies, England, India, Pakistan and South Africa.

Media career

After the 1956 England tour, Richie stayed behind in London to take a BBC presenter training course. He later took up a journalism position with the News of the World, beginning as a police roundsman before becoming a sports columnist. In 1960, he made his first radio commentary in the United Kingdom at the BBC, after which he moved into television.

After retiring from playing international cricket in 1964, Richie turned to full-time cricket journalism and commentary, dividing his time between Britain (where he worked for the BBC for many years before joining Channel 4 in 1999), and Australia (for the Nine Network). Overall he played in or commentated on approximately 500 Test matches.

Named in his honour - Richie Benaud Oval, 1961

Richie Benaud Oval in Belmore Park, Pennant Hills Road, North Parramatta was named in his honour after proposals to Council by Alderman ARC Thomas was accepted in 1961. Belmore Park is currently undergoing refurbishments with plans for more installations and artwork to honour Benaud. See Masterplan here

Second love

On 29 March 1967, Marcia Benaud after two years of separation, divorced Richie on the grounds of desertion. Three months later, in July 1967, Benaud married English secretary Daphne Surfleet, who had worked for the English cricket writer E. W. Swanton. This marriage would last until Richie's death and saw them travel the world with his international cricket commentating career.

Lost heritage

In 2003, the Benaud family sold their family home 5 Sorrell Street, North Parramatta to former Lord Mayor and Granville MP David Borger for $600,000 who later co-owned the property with Labour Councillor Paul Barber. In May 2010, the property was sold to developer Michael Younes for $689,000 who submitted development applications to have the house demolished and redeveloped. Sadly “in 2011, Parramatta Council failed to stop the demolition of his childhood home in North Parramatta and already there are calls for a suitable memorial to recognise the much-loved local.”

Death and obituary

On 10 April 2015, Richie passed away in his sleep from cancer. He was offered a state funeral by then Prime Minister Tony Abbott, but his widow Daphne declined,  respecting his wishes for a private funeral held on 15 April attended by only his immediate family.

Below are some obituaries published in memory of the legendary Australian cricket captain and celebrated commentator:

• Tom Wood. (2015). Parramatta District Cricket Club (formerly known as Central Cumberland) Obituary – Richie Benaud. Parramatta District Cricket Club. Retrieved from http://www.parracricket.com.au/files/267/files/Obituary%20-%20Richie%20Benaud.pdf
• Deborah FitzGerald (2015, April 10).  ‘Richie never forgot his roots’: Tributes flow for Parramatta boy Benaud, dead at 84, Parramatta Advertiser. Retrieved from https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/richie-never-forgot-his-roots-tributes-flow-for-parramatta-boy-benaud-dead-at-84/news-story/45b49e970f495040bd7de0b53c8a71ef
• Daniel Cherny (2015, April 10). Richie Benaud timeline: 1930-2015, The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from  https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/richie-benaud-timeline-19302015-20150410-1migbg.html

Books written by Richie Benaud

• The Way of Cricket (1961)
• A Tale of Two Tests (1962)
• Spin Me a Spinner (1963)
• The New Champions (1966)
• Willow Patterns (1969)
• Test Cricket (1982)
• World Series Cup Cricket 1981–82 (1982)
• The Hottest Summer (1983)
• The Ashes 1982–83 (1983)
• Benaud on Reflection (1984)
• The Appeal of Cricket (1995)
• Anything But (1998)
• My Spin on Cricket (2005)
• Over But Not Out (2010)

Proposed Richie Benaud Day on 22 February

There is a petition by Superfan group, The Richies, wanting the 22 February to be known as Richie Benaud Day. The phrase 2 for 222 is synonymous with Richie because of the cricketer’s famous line and unique style of saying the term 2 for 222.