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Calling all: Richie Benaud’s last transmission Calling all: Richie Benaud’s last transmission
(about 2 hours later)
Richie Benaud seemed eternal, until suddenly he wasn’t. His must be the most significant passing in Australian cricket since Donald Bradman.Richie Benaud seemed eternal, until suddenly he wasn’t. His must be the most significant passing in Australian cricket since Donald Bradman.
I speak here holding Phillip Hughes’s death apart: the loss of youth in its prime is entirely different to the farewell procession of elder statesmen in due time. One invites respect for deeds done and a life lived, the other a visceral grief for losing the chance to do such things. The youthful dead’s tragedy is a future tense that they will never turn to past.I speak here holding Phillip Hughes’s death apart: the loss of youth in its prime is entirely different to the farewell procession of elder statesmen in due time. One invites respect for deeds done and a life lived, the other a visceral grief for losing the chance to do such things. The youthful dead’s tragedy is a future tense that they will never turn to past.
Whatever the gauge of Bradman’s greatness, Benaud’s loss is more personal. Bradman already belonged to a past era: he aged slowly, receded from view and one day was gone, a rock formation eroding into the sea. Like the last telegram or the final Morse code transmission, being taken out of commission is less a surprise than the reminder that they still existed.Whatever the gauge of Bradman’s greatness, Benaud’s loss is more personal. Bradman already belonged to a past era: he aged slowly, receded from view and one day was gone, a rock formation eroding into the sea. Like the last telegram or the final Morse code transmission, being taken out of commission is less a surprise than the reminder that they still existed.
Richie was one of us, part of modern cricket to the end. He championed its advancements, studied and admired its players, never pined for good old days. That made him the perfect narrator for Hughes’s memorial film screened at the SCG before the 2015 New Year’s Test. “A boy just beginning, 25 years of age, baggy green number four zero eight,” came Richie’s familiar tones, and the ground stood to attention. “Rest in peace, son,” he concluded, poignantly apt given his own paternal presence and the gulf in age between them.Richie was one of us, part of modern cricket to the end. He championed its advancements, studied and admired its players, never pined for good old days. That made him the perfect narrator for Hughes’s memorial film screened at the SCG before the 2015 New Year’s Test. “A boy just beginning, 25 years of age, baggy green number four zero eight,” came Richie’s familiar tones, and the ground stood to attention. “Rest in peace, son,” he concluded, poignantly apt given his own paternal presence and the gulf in age between them.
As the tribute proved, even an absent Richie remained the voice of Channel Nine. Unreasonably of a man in his 80s, without ever thinking on it deeply, most of us just expected Richie would be back. Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland, Nine boss David Gyngell and head of sport Steve Crawley said the same. There was talk of returning for that SCG Test, even commentating from his lounge room, and in January up popped up Richie’s lamb advertisement with Sam Kekovich.As the tribute proved, even an absent Richie remained the voice of Channel Nine. Unreasonably of a man in his 80s, without ever thinking on it deeply, most of us just expected Richie would be back. Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland, Nine boss David Gyngell and head of sport Steve Crawley said the same. There was talk of returning for that SCG Test, even commentating from his lounge room, and in January up popped up Richie’s lamb advertisement with Sam Kekovich.
On its face it showed vitality, a jovial Richie on the phone arranging a surreal barbeque. That he was even doing the ad suggested all was well – would the dignified Benaud agree to this lark if the end was nigh? But something was very off. Richie was frail, his hair coarse, his face gaunt. The make-up department laid it on thick. The Kekovich series is about manic energy, but the jolliness was brittle. In truth Benaud’s sharpness had been fading in his last few years on air, but here was a sick man dressed to look well. On its face it showed vitality, a jovial Richie on the phone arranging a surreal barbecue. That he was even doing the ad suggested all was well – would the dignified Benaud agree to this lark if the end was nigh? But something was very off. Richie was frail, his hair coarse, his face gaunt. The make-up department laid it on thick. The Kekovich series is about manic energy, but the jolliness was brittle. In truth Benaud’s sharpness had been fading in his last few years on air, but here was a sick man dressed to look well.
To put Benaud next to Bradman is to contrast love and respect; the emotional and the clinical. Bradman can be quantified as the best player of any sport, judged by his margin of superiority over the next-best performers. He’s the outlier’s outlier, but was master of a single art. The all-rounder gives the sense of greater joy for the game, a determination that he should be involved in everything rather than a self-determination that he can’t.To put Benaud next to Bradman is to contrast love and respect; the emotional and the clinical. Bradman can be quantified as the best player of any sport, judged by his margin of superiority over the next-best performers. He’s the outlier’s outlier, but was master of a single art. The all-rounder gives the sense of greater joy for the game, a determination that he should be involved in everything rather than a self-determination that he can’t.
Let’s add that even the great batsmen of Australia’s pantheon are not loved as freely and impulsively as the leg-spinner, purveyor of cricket’s most elaborate art; so beautiful to watch, so lacking latitude for failure. So a leggie who also set batting records for dashingly fast centuries and near-misses? You couldn’t get any better. Wait, make him a young aggressive captain with no fear of losing. Make him dishevelled, daring, devil-may-care in an era that is only just starting to loosen its corset. Have him leave his shirt billowing open and his hair tousled as he bounds in to bowl, tan glowing, smile flashing as he rushes to embrace team-mates, the game finding its dynamism as the early notes of rock and roll stir in the background. Richie was, dare you say this of an Australian cricketer, kind of sexy, in Australian and British societies that were scared stiff of the idea.Let’s add that even the great batsmen of Australia’s pantheon are not loved as freely and impulsively as the leg-spinner, purveyor of cricket’s most elaborate art; so beautiful to watch, so lacking latitude for failure. So a leggie who also set batting records for dashingly fast centuries and near-misses? You couldn’t get any better. Wait, make him a young aggressive captain with no fear of losing. Make him dishevelled, daring, devil-may-care in an era that is only just starting to loosen its corset. Have him leave his shirt billowing open and his hair tousled as he bounds in to bowl, tan glowing, smile flashing as he rushes to embrace team-mates, the game finding its dynamism as the early notes of rock and roll stir in the background. Richie was, dare you say this of an Australian cricketer, kind of sexy, in Australian and British societies that were scared stiff of the idea.
You wonder what the conservative Bradman made of Benaud’s flair. He appreciated it tactically: he was behind Benaud’s appointment as captain, and delivered the exhortation for positive cricket that made the 1960/61 West Indies series so celebrated. In commentary, contrastingly, Benaud’s approach was all restraint. His quoted and misquoted maxim about not speaking unless you can add to the picture is just as relevant and far less regarded today. He refused to put himself ahead of the game.You wonder what the conservative Bradman made of Benaud’s flair. He appreciated it tactically: he was behind Benaud’s appointment as captain, and delivered the exhortation for positive cricket that made the 1960/61 West Indies series so celebrated. In commentary, contrastingly, Benaud’s approach was all restraint. His quoted and misquoted maxim about not speaking unless you can add to the picture is just as relevant and far less regarded today. He refused to put himself ahead of the game.
Take his 2005 farewell in England: a few understated lines of thanks to viewers for 42 years of company, curtailed to seamlessly work in the wicket of Kevin Pietersen after an Ashes-winning century; a summary of the match position as Pietersen left the Oval; then Matthew Hoggard walked to the crease backed by the burble of the crowd. Benaud’s closing contribution to Channel 4 was 29 full seconds of silence, then, “Beautifully bowled. McGrath gets his man, and we’ve got our two men in the commentary box, Mark Nicholas and Tony Greig.”Take his 2005 farewell in England: a few understated lines of thanks to viewers for 42 years of company, curtailed to seamlessly work in the wicket of Kevin Pietersen after an Ashes-winning century; a summary of the match position as Pietersen left the Oval; then Matthew Hoggard walked to the crease backed by the burble of the crowd. Benaud’s closing contribution to Channel 4 was 29 full seconds of silence, then, “Beautifully bowled. McGrath gets his man, and we’ve got our two men in the commentary box, Mark Nicholas and Tony Greig.”
We’ve just seen that restraint one last time. I’m projecting intention onto circumstance, but the timing of his earthly exit was very Benaud: during the longest break of the year, far from the chance of distraction, avoiding any chance of tribute Tests and dedications. Richie had to voice the Hughes memorial – no one else could have – but he then stepped back to give the team space. That final Test ticked by without comment. The players won their World Cup, dedicated it to their friend and saw the season laid to rest.We’ve just seen that restraint one last time. I’m projecting intention onto circumstance, but the timing of his earthly exit was very Benaud: during the longest break of the year, far from the chance of distraction, avoiding any chance of tribute Tests and dedications. Richie had to voice the Hughes memorial – no one else could have – but he then stepped back to give the team space. That final Test ticked by without comment. The players won their World Cup, dedicated it to their friend and saw the season laid to rest.
As we look back he’ll stay locked with Hughes as counterweights: youth and experience; promise and delivery. The people close to Benaud will have their patchwork of memories and last moments, but for all of us who knew him through the screen, our last will be that brief narration at the SCG, an elderly man saluting young life lost before himself departing in the same direction. For us that was Richie’s last transmission, bringing to mind those Morse code operators once again. When the French navy retired the form in 1997, their operator keyed a final message. “Calling all. This is our last cry before eternal silence.”As we look back he’ll stay locked with Hughes as counterweights: youth and experience; promise and delivery. The people close to Benaud will have their patchwork of memories and last moments, but for all of us who knew him through the screen, our last will be that brief narration at the SCG, an elderly man saluting young life lost before himself departing in the same direction. For us that was Richie’s last transmission, bringing to mind those Morse code operators once again. When the French navy retired the form in 1997, their operator keyed a final message. “Calling all. This is our last cry before eternal silence.”