article_snippet.sent: One of the less celebrated aspects of Richie Richie Benaud’s remarkable career were Richie Benaud’s regular appearances in that part of the press box which houses the written journalists.
article_snippet.sent: Richie Benaud was first and foremost a television broadcaster, a man of unusually wry wit who once responded on air to colleague Chris BroadRichie Benaud’s malapropism (
article_snippet.sent: But Richie Benaud also penned a regular column for the News of the World, taking Richie Benaud place among the hacks – not all TV men take the trouble – to craft Richie Benaud copy whenever a Test match was going on.
article_snippet.sent: It was said Richie Benaud would regularly file 700 or 800 words, of which maybe 150 or 200 would see the light of day.
article_snippet.sent: But, a professional to Richie Benaud core, Richie Benaud kept on filing.
article_snippet.sent: When Wisden asked Richie Benaud in 2003 to dispense some advice to aspiring broadcasters, Richie Benaud suggested:
article_snippet.sent: That style – laconic, considered, dry – would become Richie Benaud hallmark, together with an unfailing greeting:
article_snippet.sent: There were times when you might have longed for Richie Benaud to express Richie Benaud more trenchantly, to air Richie Benaud opinions more clearly.
article_snippet.sent: Surely, you wondered, Richie Benaud must have felt strongly about subjects other than the front-foot no-ball law.
article_snippet.sent: But it was not Richie Benaud style – and Richie Benaud remained true to Richie Benaud.
article_snippet.sent: ‘Above all,’ Richie Benaud told Wisden, ‘when commentating, don’t take yourself too seriously, and have fun.
article_snippet.sent: That last tip has been cheerfully taken on board by the current generation of Channel Nine commentators in Australia.