His innings gave cricket an eloquence

RICHIE Benaud was persistently parodied but always took it in good stead.

He was a gentleman to the core, according to those who were close to him, those former players and broadcasters who covered cricket matches around the globe.

Benaud died in his sleep last week aged 84, succumbing to a battle with skin cancer, and his passing leaves a huge void for cricket fans everywhere.

He was one of those wonderfully eloquent commentators, never saying too much, never stating the obvious (especially if you were watching the game on TV). He added to the moment but never let his ego suffocate it.

Regardless of your interest in the game, Benaud's contribution should never be underestimated. He carried his outstanding career as a cricketer and moulded that to calling the game.

It was his voice that will be remembered. It was a voice that placed him in the pantheon of great commentators, alongside the likes of Alan McGilvray and John Arlott, all of them perfect foils for the game as it was played out. There have been many others but Benaud, like those two mentioned, was the consummate professional. He saw the game as it was being played by two committed teams and favoured no-one, even though he was a legendary Australian captain and could have been forgiven for the odd slip of bias. It never showed.

There was a dignity about Benaud that made him different, the sort who kept his head when those around him were losing theirs.

An anecdote from Australian cricket scribe Andrew Webster bears repeating. Former Aussie player Michael Slater, new to the commentary box at the time, described a situation on the field as a "tragedy". During the commercial break, Benaud turned to Slater and said: "Michael, you used the word 'tragedy'. The Titanic is a tragedy. Being bowled is not a tragedy." That just about says it all.

Benaud was the exemplar of a great game. Our summers will never be quite the same.