Saddened today to learn this morning of the passing of Australian cricket legend Richie Benaud, aged 84. The news of his passing saddened me in the same way as that of radio legend Brian Johnson around 20 years ago.
As a player, Benaud was before my time. But as a broadcaster I grew up listening to his commentary on BBC television in the UK. Those were the days before satellite/subscription TV and even before there was regular TV programming in the mornings. So in the school summer holidays, all you could get was the test match coverage presented by Richie.
Our friends "down under" will appreciate the great rivalry in cricket between England and Australia, and everyone knows that this can boil over from time to time.
However, Richie Benaud - in my view as an Englishman - proved to be an outstanding ambassador for Australian cricket, for Australia, and for Australians. A very successful cricketer, albeit a fierce rival, he became a very popular and respected figure in UK broadcasting.
He will be missed.
