A tribute to Richie Benaud: Why we’ve lost a great educator

My generation hasn’t watched Richie Benaud bat or bowl or field, but we have heard him and heard him studiously. As a commentator, I found an educator in him. He was very precise while describing a situation and would even explain the thinking of an on-field captain and the batsmen – often correctly! Whether Australia was playing in a game Richie Benaud was commentating on didn’t make any difference. He was dispassionate and his emotions rarely showed up. I remember him say once that “A commentator’s job is to illustrate, not participate”. 

It was in the early 2000s; ESPN Starsports had conducted a workshop in Kochi where school kids from more than 100 schools participated and they were getting advice from Indian fast bowler Javagal Srinath. “Listening to Richie Benaud is an education for youngsters and cricket lovers. Don’t just hear him, ‘listen’ to him and watch the happenings on the field. You will learn your game much faster,” Srinath had said. He had also added that it may not be an over-statement to say that Richie Benaud is only next to Sir Donald Bradman for the Australians!

For the effervescent Nari Contractor, Richie was simply extraordinary. "He was a great leg spinner, a great batsman, a great captain and above all, a great, great human being. Very rarely does one comes across a gentleman who is so committed to the game,” Naribhai had said. Richie Benaud was known for bowling around the wicket and claiming batsmen round the legs.

The famous 1960-61 home series involving the West Indies could be the best of Benaud’s career. The series has been documented for four reasons – attacking cricket, world’s first tied test match, gentlemanly behaviour by both captains Richie Benaud and Sir Frank Worrell and Kenneth Mackay’s bravery, err, heroics! I’ll, however, restrict myself to narrating how revered and respected Richie Benaud was by his lieutenants. 

The fourth test of the series was drawn, but, the drama that unfolded on the last day was mind boggling! Sir Frank Worrell won the toss, decided to bat and posted 393 on the board with the help of Rohan Kanhai (117), Worrell himself (71) and Gerry Alexander (63 not out). Australia replied with 366 helped by Bobby Simpson (85), Benaud (77) and Colin McDonald (71). Both, Benaud the leggie and Lance Gibbs the offie, bagged five wickets each for their respective sides. In their second inning, West Indies scored 432 runs for the loss of 6 wickets and declared. Kanhai scored his second century of the match and he was helped by Gerry Alexander, Conrad Hunte and Worrell with half centuries. The challenge for the Australians was daunting – to score 460 in just over one day or play out for a draw. Nobody survived except Norman O’Neill (65), Peter Burge (49) and Wolly Grout (42). Australia was reduced to 207 for 9. 

Kenneth Mackay, who was batting doggedly, was joined by Lindsay Kline a chinaman bowler with more than one and a half hours still remaining. I have read in one of Jack Fingleton’s books that before joining Mackay, Kline had asked Richie Benaud, “What do you want me to do there, skipper?” Benaud had watched him practice about 100 balls in the backdoor nets before this and Kline had been caught in the slips 30 times, LBW 40 times and was clean bowled the rest of the deliveries! Benaud kept his calm and replied, “I want you there when the clock strikes 6”.

Kenny Mackay was a patient batsman – in the Ken Barrington mode – and was batting solidly. But it was shocking for every one present on the ground and Benaud himself as Kline began to middle everything! Mackay grew in confidence and allowed Kline to take strike too. Will Kline stay at the wicket when it strikes 6 on the clock? 

Each and every heart was pumping manifold with every delivery going wicket-less. Mackay and Kline were killing time. Mackay was, time and again, strolling towards the square leg umpire. The pressure now was mounting and every West Indian playing under Worrell was getting more and more restless. With every over finishing without a result, West Indies bowlers started stamping through their run up. After all, the time was ticking, passing, posting a threat of a possible loss of an opportunity…

A few seconds still remaining for the clock to strike 6, Worrell handed over the ball to, none else that the dangerous, fast and intimidating Wesley Hall to bowl the last over of the match. With only two wickets in the kitty he wasn’t very happy and with the last over to bowl, he was getting more and more anxious. Mind you, during those days in Australia it was an eight-ball over. With each delivery gone, Hall was huffing and puffing, getting restless, apprehensive and fretful. 

Having faced the entire over but the last ball, Mackay had only one thing in mind - I’m not letting my bat in the way of the ball. I don’t mind offering my body to save the test match.

Hall’s last ball was indeed short, sharp, fast, rising and scary. The gutsy Mackay lifted his bat and offered his ribs, making sure the test was drawn!

In the dressing room, amidst celebrations, Richie Benaud was quiet and sat as if in shock. When the courageous Mackay went to him and asked to celebrate, Benaud asked Mackay, “Should anything have gone wrong with you, how would I have responded to your mother?” Benaud was concerned about his lieutenant’s life. Reading this, it becomes so easy to understand what Naribhai Contractor – courageous himself – meant when he called Benaud a great human being.

And it also becomes very easy to understand why Benaud’s lieutenants revered and respected him when we read Kenny Mackay’s reply to Richie Benaud’s question, “Skipper, you could have told her that her son died saving Australia…” without batting an eyelid. 

Jack Fingleton concluded thus – Thereafter on many occasions Kenny Mackay was seen jumping on an odd parapet, lifting his t-shirt and shouting, “I saved Australia, I saved my skipper…” pointing at his black-and-blue ribs!

Richie Benaud was an educator, he educated his team, he educated generations. Very few do so.

The author a senior sports journalist