ICC Mourns Celebrated Legend

Benaud, who will be burried on Friday, died aged 84 years on Thursday evening at a Sydney hospice.

His death is a mojor blow to the International Cricket Council (ICC) which looked upon him for advice and commentaries.

Tributes pouring the home of the lengend have described him as the ‘voice of cricket’ and a commentator.

He had been receiving radiation treatment for skin cancer since November 2014.

The commentator was widely regarded as one of the most influential person in cricket history.

He took the lead commentator’s position at Australian network channel nine in 1977.

Nine's head of sport, Steve Crawley said: "You didn't have to know Richie to love him – everything about him.”

"Best in the business bar none. We will miss him the way you miss loved ones. And at the same time we will thank our lucky stars he came our way at all."

Prime Minister assures family of state burial

Nine Entertainment Co's chief executive David Gyngell said Benaud's death had "robbed" the world of "not only a national treasure but a lovely man".

Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott, offered Benaud's family a state funeral.

He  tweeted: "A sad day for Australia. We have lost a cricketing champion and Australian icon. What an innings. RIP Richie Benaud."

Hollywood actor Russell Crowe tweeted: "RIP Richie Benaud. My deep gratitude for all you gave to the sport of cricket as a player and as a broadcaster. Sad, sad day."

Benaud played 64 test matches as an all-rounder between 1952 and 1964, taking 945 wickets in 259 first-class matches and making 11,719 first-class runs, scoring 23 centuries at an average of 36.50.

He was the first man to achieve 2,000 runs and 200 wickets at test level.

Benaud will be remembered by millions for his measured, laconic brand of commentary and he was as popular in England, where he worked on television from 1963 to 2005, as he was in his homeland.

By Musalia Wycliffe

Source: Sky News