Famous Cricketers No 100 - Richie Benaud

bowling on the slower English pitches, showing him how to bowl a top-spinner and working to lower his arm during delivery. Close friend Neil Harvey also gave him some pointers on how to bat on English pitches. Harvey also introduced Benaud to the ballet when he took him to see a performance of Swan Lake featuring Margot Fonteyn. Benaud was in awe of the performance and has been to the ballet every year since. With the tour all but over and the Ashes lost, Benaud produced his most astonishing performance to date in a festival match at Scarborough. This traditional fixture pitted the tourists against a near Test-strength English side and was known for providing some entertaining, carefree batting for the crowd. Benaud opened the batting and was taking his time to settle in when Len Hutton sniped that Benaud was playing for his average. Benaud was incensed by the comment and responded by unleashing a hitting display of Jessopian proportions. Eventually out for 135, his innings included 11 sixes, which equalled the record for first-class cricket held by C.K Nayudu and C.J Barnett. At one stage he blasted off-spinner Roy Tattersall for four consecutive sixes. It was the first time an Australian player had made a century containing more sixes than fours. Scarborough was also the scene of a career-changing chat with Bill ‘Tiger’ O’Reilly. The great leg-spinner had become frustrated with his young counterpart and arranged a meeting through journalist Tom Goodman. O’Reilly stressed the need for a leg-spinner to perfect his stock delivery and the importance of not giving anything away as a bowler. He felt Benaud was using too much variety and told the youngster so in his very direct way. Benaud took the advice on board and later described the one-hour chat “one of the most beneficial events in my cricketing life”. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 34. Australians v Worcestershire, Worcester, April 29, 30, May 1 (Match drawn) (7) lbw b R.T.D.Perks 44 542-7d 29 11 66 2 D.Kenyon b 333-7d L.F.Outschoorn st G.R.A.Langley 35. Australians v Yorkshire, Bradford, May 6, 7, 8 (Australia won by an innings and 94 runs) (7) c D.V.Brennan b N.W.D.Yardley 97 453-6d 19 6 46 7 J.V.Wilson b 145 1 W.Watson c A.K.Davidson W.H.H.Sutcliffe c and b J.H.Wardle b D.V.Brennan b E.Burgin c A.K.Davidson M.J.Cowan st G.R.A.Langley 3 1 8 0 214 1 36. Australians v Surrey, Kennington Oval, London, May 9, 11 (Australians won by an innings and 76 runs) (6) c A.J.W.McIntyre b A.V.Bedser 12 256 58 1 122 37. Australians v MCC, Lord’s, May (16), 18, 19 (Match drawn) (6) c R.Tattersall b A.E.Moss 35 179 - - - - 80 1 (2) c R.Tattersall b A.E.Moss 0 13-2 7 1 20 1 A.E.Moss c G.B.Hole 196 38. Australians v Oxford University, Christ Church Ground, Oxford, May 20, 21 (Australians won by an innings and 86 runs) (7) st A.P.Walshe b D.K.Fasken 5 330 5.1 0 20 3 A.P.Walshe c D.T Ring 70 D.C.P.R.Jowett c R.G.Archer D.K.Fasken c G.R.A.Langley 20 9 37 3 C.C.P.Williams c J.H.de Courcy 174 M.C.Cowdrey b A.P.Walshe c G.R.A.Langley 39. Australians v Minor Counties, Stoke-on-Trent, May 23, 25 (Australians won by an innings and 171 runs) (2) b F.Taylor 20 289 - - - - 56 7 2 13 5 C.Lee c J.H.de Courcy 62 G.W.L.Courtenay st D.Tallon B.A.Barnett b C.A.Pickett b F.Taylor st D.Tallon 22