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morning-everyone
Evening, everyone
By Will last year, mid-February, 14 Comments »
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What with Sir Allen Stanford hogging the limelight, the news that Richie Benaud is to hang up his mic has gone rather unnoticed.
Benaud moved into television commentary soon after retiring from international cricket in 1964 – he took 248 wickets in 63 Tests – and joined the Channel Nine team in 1977. He soon became an icon of sports broadcasting for his crisp style and dry humour – and sharp dress sense. In 2005 English fans mourned the end of 42 years of Benaud’s commentary in the country after the free-to-air Channel 4’s contract ended with the ECB.
The same year Benaud was voted Australia’s most popular commentator in a poll conducted by the Wisden Cricketer and Cricinfo. At the time he said he wanted to continue writing books, which he had begun doing long before making a career in television.
I’ve been fortunate enough to speak to Richie twice, and although he is a remarkably humble person, the sheer length of his involvement in the game makes you check your words. After all, he has seen it all. Or played against so-and-so. Or been on holiday with thingy wotsit. He’s also surprisingly tall.
I won’t mourn his radio-wave silence – we in England had to do that in 2005 when the ECB greedily sold television rights to Sky – but it’s still a sad thought that there’s a generation of fans who will never hear “Morning everyone”. In fact, “Thanks Tony [Lewis]; morning everyone” was officially the start of my summer when I was growing up: the cricket was on, and Richie was going to guide us through it. He was unbiased, neutral, knowledgeable and wise – the cricketing grandfather, and the commentators’ too.
He shone on the BBC. It’s worth remembering that only 15 years ago, the style of commentary was nothing like today’s non-stop, all-action method of forcing people to listen. Silence wasn’t so much encouraged, but neither was verbal diarrhea. Only if they had something useful to say would they say it (with the exception of Fred Trueman…) and on lots of occasions, you could sit there for a whole minute with nothing but the stump and effects mic for company, absorbing yourself in the game. The experience was far more engrossing than Sky and other broadcasters’ insistence on noise, graphics, constant conversation, cheesy music and treating the viewers like cretins. I don’t blame Sky – they are only reacting to trends, and the rapid evolution of the game in becoming increasingly marketable – but I can’t say I prefer it either.
Benaud was dry, reserved and thoughtful. I remember in 2000 when England were doing brilliantly against West Indies, Nasser Hussain took a sharp and low catch to his right at mid-off. “Well,” he began, pausing for a good three or four seconds. “If England aren’t yet on fire”
Your favourite memories? And also – a call to the more talented: how about creating a short three-minute video on his best bits/moments. Go on, there must be someone up for that.
14 Comments »Perks of the job
By Will 5 years ago, mid-November, 6 Comments »
I get to review Simon Hughes’ new book, Morning Everyone – hurrah! Two days off and far too much to do, but hopefully will work my way through it. Looking forward to reading it.
6 Comments »Ashes DVDs and a couple of books
By Will 5 years ago, mid-October, 3 Comments »
My 3-set Ashes DVD (£14.99) has been dispatched by Amazon – a weekend of beer, pizza and cricket awaits some time in the next couple of weeks! Also, two other books of note:
1) Simon Hughes’ new book, Morning Everyone, is released on October 20 (Thursday). A lot to live up to after his previous two books.
2) Gideon Haigh’s Ashes 2005. One of the best writers around, this should be an excellent – and one of the better – accounts of this summer’s Ashes. Out, too, on October 20.
So rare to have a feast of cricket-DVD-and-book’age happening – and it’s far too long to wait for Christmas! – so get ‘em now like I have.
3 Comments »Simon Hughes’ “Morning Everyone”
By Will 5 years ago, mid-June, 2 Comments »
With a title no doubt influenced by his Channel 4 colleague, Mr Benaud, Simon Hughes “The Analyst’s” new book (out in October) has a finalised front cover. Very much looking forward to reading it after his first two were so excellent.
UPDATE 21 October 2005. The book is now available at Amazon, priced £10.19. For more cricket books, see this tag.
2 Comments »