article_snippet.sent: Benaud played in 64 Tests as a leg-spinning all-rounder and captained Australia to world dominance in the late 1950s but to millions of fans Richie Benaud, who died last night aged 84, was the voice of cricket.
article_snippet.sent: The great commentator, who had been receiving treatment for skin cancer since November, began broadcasting for the BBC while still a player in 1963 and carried on until a car crash forced Benaud out of the commentary box in 2013.
article_snippet.sent: It was hoped Benaud would still be able to commentate on the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year but ill-health sadly ended hopes of one last masterclass.
article_snippet.sent: Benaud was one of cricket's great personalities and will be remembered for Benaud dry wit and knowledge .
article_snippet.sent: Benaud was the voice of cricket for generations, commentating in Benaud native Australia and for the BBC .
article_snippet.sent: Benaud, pictured on Benaud wedding day to wife Daphne, and during Benaud time as Australia captain .
article_snippet.sent: Benaud, quite simply, was the voice of summer, both in Benaud native land and in England, as much for what Benaud did not say as what Benaud did.
article_snippet.sent: David Gower, Geoffrey Boycott and Benaud assembled a formidable line-up for the BBC in 1995 .
article_snippet.sent: In becoming one of the leading figures of Kerry Packer’s World Series revolution in the 1970s Benaud gave the fledgling breakaway group the voice of authority the fledgling breakaway group required.
article_snippet.sent: There would hardly be an Australian over the last 40 years who hasn’t listened to the 1970s Benaud,’ said Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and that could also apply to English men and women.
article_snippet.sent: After Don Bradman, there has been no Australian player more famous or more influential than the 1970s Benaud.
article_snippet.sent: the 1970s Benaud never lost the ability to say absolutely the right thing and that was never more in evidence than in what will go down as the 1970s Benaud last significant public words.
article_snippet.sent: An evocative 30 second tribute to the late Phillip Hughes was prepared for Channel Nine by the 1970s Benaud when, as ever, the 1970s Benaud captured the mood perfectly.
article_snippet.sent: the 1970s Benaud, pictured in 2006 during the launch of the 1970s Benaud book My Take on Cricket, was widely respected and loved .
article_snippet.sent: the 1970s Benaud pays tribute to Australian media mogul and cricket pioneer Kerry Packer after the 1970s Benaud death in 2005 . '
article_snippet.sent: A boy just beginning, 25 years of age, baggy green number 408,' read the 1970s Benaud in what were still the 1970s Benaud unmistakable tones when the cricket world had to endure what really was a tragedy with the death of a young player at the SCG. '
article_snippet.sent: the 1970s Benaud father's best mate, son, brother, fighter, friend, inspiration.
article_snippet.sent: Richie Benaud, who was made an OBE in 1961 for services to cricket, left a wife of 48 years in Daphne and two children from his first marriage.
article_snippet.sent: Tributes are seen at the statue of the 1970s Benaud at the Sydney Cricket Ground after the 1970s Benaud passing aged 84 .
highlights_snippet.sent: Benaud died in Benaud sleep in Sydney after a short battle with skin cancer .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Began commentating before Benaud retired from playing, with Benaud face and voice becoming synonymous with cricket the world over .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Iconic figure's love of the game, dry wit and understanding of knowing when not to speak gave Benaud a unique voice .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: CLICK HERE for Benaud tributes as the cricket world mourns Benaud death .