Benaud: On Reflection

by Richie Benaud

Genres: Nonfiction

263 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE (born October 6, 1930 in Penrith, New South Wales) is an Australian former cricketer who, since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has become a highly regarded commentator on the game.

Benaud was a world-class Test cricket all-rounder, blending thoughtful leg spin bowling with lower order batting aggression. Along with fellow bowling all rounder Alan Davidson, he helped restore Australia to the top of world cricket in the late 1950s and early 1960s after a slump in the early 1950s. In 1958 he became captain of the Australian cricket team and, until his retirement in 1964, took international cricket into the modern era by emphasizing the need for positive play, using his media expertise to communicate his and his team's goals clearly and effectively.

He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1961 for services to cricket.

Reviews

[Richard Olney · Rating 4 out of 5]

That Cricket was and has always been the most controversial game of all is by its own admission the theme of this book. Published just over twenty years since Mr Benaud had retired, in which time the One Day International, and World Series Cricket, of which Benaud was heavily involved, had happened and South Africa had been expelled from international competition, this was the time of the so-called rebel tour. That is surely controversy enough for most people and in commenting on all these events i think he makes his point very well.

From a personal view, the Summer of 1985 which he previews here in the extra bit for the paperback edition is when i became properly aware of and fell for the game of Cricket. England beating Australia and Richie Benaud's commentary on the BBC television coverage had a lot to do with it. I didn't buy this book until maybe the turn of the 21stCE, i know i bought it in a bookshop in York while on a Cricket tour but i think if i'd had this book at the time it would have made me a more informed and certainly a less serious follower of the game. Time and again, Mr Benaud's anecdotes are full of humour and it seems clear he enjoyed or tried to enjoy his time with the game.

[Andrew Hecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie Benuad was the Virgil to my introduction to the world of cricket. When I first moved to Australia in January of 1993, I stayed up all night watching the Ashes tests between England and Australia. Benaud was the head commentator on Channel 9 which carried the Tests. His dry, sartorial style is easily mocked (see the 12th Man), but his the depth of his cricket knowledge is remarkable and listening to him was deeply enriching.

I'm probably one of only a handful of Americans to have to read this book. I suspect I might be the only one to own it as well as Benuad's other books, Spin me a Spinner and Willow Patterns.

[Marco · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there is anyone on the planet that knows Cricket, it is Richie Benaud! Any book on the sport that is written by him is always going to be worth reading!