Andrew McGarry of the ABC has written a beautiful tribute to Richie Benaud. It sent me off thinking.
Richie was one of the first players I followed when I was developing my interest in cricket. He has been a guide for me since 1961. I did not see his second innings bowling performance in the Fourth Test at Old Trafford but did listen to some of it on the wireless. I spent the rest of that summer imagining how I would play against spin on a turning pitch.
This image from the National Archives of Australia brought back all those memories.
Two years ago, I was walking along a path at Coogee, and passed Richie on his walk. I nodded, he smiled and I was back in Manchester batting against him as the elegant Ted Dexter.
Vale.
Photo Credits
Richie Benaud – Cricketer (National Archives of Australia, Open Access)
Richie Benaud – a cricketer for NSW (National Archives of Australia, Open Access)
