Benaud’s most memorable quotes

Australia

Richie Benaud wasn't called the Voice of Cricket for nothing. Here we've collected some of the legendary commentator's best quotes on all things cricket.

On commentary: "My mantra is: put your brain into gear and if you can add to what's on the screen then do it, otherwise shut up."

On captaincy: "Captaincy is 90 per cent luck and 10 per cent skill. But don't try it without that 10 per cent."

On the media: "Media were never allowed into an Australian dressing room until I became skipper. I changed that and invited them in at the close of play each day, thereby confirming for many administrators they had appointed a madman as captain."

Joking about a Glenn McGrath innings: "And Glenn McGrath dismissed for two, just ninety-eight runs short of his century."

On Shane Warne's 1993 'ball of the century: "What a cricketer, what a match-winner, what a ball. Gatting has absolutely no idea what has happened to it.

"Still doesn't know. He asked (umpire) Kenny Palmer on the way out. Kenny Palmer just gave him a raised eyebrow and a little nod."

On a streaker at Lords: "There was a slight interruption there for athletics."

On match fixing in the game: "My every waking moment was spent working out how to win cricket matches. Now I suddenly find that around the cricket world there are bastards who spend every waking moment working out how to lose cricket matches."

On cricket grounds: "A cricket ground is a flat piece of earth with some buildings around it."

And finally, a bit of prize banter: Co-commentator: "He's really hurting, that ball caught him just on the inside of the right thigh."

Richie Benaud (as the replay is played): "Yes….(replay shows the ball nipping up straight into the batsman's box)… just inside the left thigh as well."

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