Famous Cricketers No 100 - Richie Benaud

17 3 67 2 A.C Walton b 170 1 A.C.Shirreff c and b 55. Australians v T.N.Pearce’s XI, Scarborough, September 9, 10, 11 (Australians won by two wickets) (1) c and b A.V.Bedser 29 317 17.2 1 98 3 T.E.Bailey lbw 320 A.V.Bedser c I.D.Craig R Tattersall lbw (1) c P.B.H.May b A.V.Bedser 135 325-8 8 0 41 0 316-8d 1 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Test matches 3 5 0 15 7 3.00 - - 5 Other matches 19 23 1 733 135 35.31 1 4 13 Tour 22 28 1 748 135 27.70 1 4 18 Career 55 77 5 2344 167* 32.55 4 11 50 Bowling O M R W BB Ave 5i 10m Test matches 68 19 174 2 1-51 87.00 - - Other matches 376 84 1099 55 7-46 19.98 2 - Tour (6b) 444 103 1273 57 7-46 22.33 2 - Career (8b) 679.1 89 } 3831 125 7-46 30.64 3 - (6b) 444 103 1953/54 This season saw a marked improvement in Benaud’s Shield form, which he attributed to the valuable experience gained in England and sheer hard work. The campaign started brightly with Benaud having figures of 5/17 at lunch on the first morning of the opening match against Queensland, after the New South Wales captain Keith Miller had thrown him the ball in the sixth over. In the same match, he notched 158 as he and Arthur Morris (171) shared a 249 run partnership. He also hit a century against Western Australia in a match that was watched by the Duke of Edinburgh on the first day. New South Wales were Sheffield Shield champions this season, the first of nine successive victories, an unrivalled period of dominance in this competition. Benaud also put in strong performances against Victoria (78 in 141 minutes) and in the return match against Queensland where he scored 88 of New South Wales’ 117 runs in the first session on his way to 144 not out. He also stood out in the selection trial, where he hit 78 in 73 minutes in the first innings and 68 in 61 minutes in the second. These performances saw him selected for the Prime Minister’s XI, traditionally a light-hearted fixture but one which carries no small amount of prestige. He hit a century at better than a run a ball and one of his five sixes was caught in the stands by Governor-General Sir William Slim. At grade level, Benaud was elevated to the captaincy of Central Cumberland. He relished the challenge and enjoyed immediate success, with his side reaching the grand final. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 56. New South Wales v Queensland, Brisbane, November 13, 14, 16, 17 (Match drawn) (6) st P.J.P.Burge b B.J.Flynn 158 422 27 6 88 5 C.E.Harvey c J.H.de Courcy 354 2 K.D.Mackay c and b E.A.Toovey b R.G.Archer c and b J.D.Bratchford c G.S.Trueman (4) c C.E.Harvey b B.J.Flynn 1 164-5 15 0 65 1 C.E.Harvey c R.R.Lindwall 374-8d 57. New South Wales v South Australia, Adelaide, November 27, 28, 30, December 1 (New South Wales won by eight wickets) (7) lbw b A.J.T.S.Bailey 27 482 30 4 102 1 A.J.T.S.Bailey b 271 (1) b J.Drennan 4 164-2 19 2 76 1 D.F.Trowse c R.E.Briggs 374 1 24