Famous Cricketers No 100 - Richie Benaud

was initially sceptical, having tried many such ‘miracle cures’ before and finding none of them eased the searing pain or bleeding. But this one did. He hailed Ivan James a genius, writing that the chance encounter with James “saved my career and was one of the key reasons why from that moment I moved into top gear as an important allrounder in Australian cricket”. Later, Benaud proved the international brotherhood of spinners was more than just an ideal when he passed on the cream to West Indian spinner Alf Valentine, who suffered from a similar complaint. Still, questions about Benaud’s ability to be a match-winner against high class opposition persisted. It is a measure of the importance attached to Anglo-Australian contests at this time that Benaud was still not considered a key player by some although he had starred in the West Indies, been the leading bowler in India and the standout batsman in Pakistan. After the 1956/57 domestic season, outgoing skipper Ian Johnson wrote that “Davidson and Benaud have never fulfilled their dazzling youthful prospects”. He went on to say “We have yet to see the best of Benaud”. Whether Johnson meant the comments as admonishment or encouragement, he was to be proven right in the most emphatic fashion just one season later. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 129. Australians v Canterbury, Christchurch, February 15, 16, 18 (Australians won by five wickets) (6) c J.W.Kiddey b M.B.Poore 31 249 23 7 44 4 M.B.Poore c R.A.Gaunt 229 S.C.Guillen c B.N.Jarman R.T.Dowker b J.W.Kiddey st B.N.Jarman (4) not out 75 223-5 25 4 80 1 A.G.Duckmanton b 241 130. Australians v Otago, Dunedin, February 22, 23 (Australians won by an innings and 102 runs) (7) c M.F.Sandri b F.J.Cameron 26 344 22.3 7 46 4 E.A.Watson b 187 B.Sutcliffe b A.M.Moir st B.N.Jarman T.Flaws lbw - - - - 55 131. Australia v New Zealand, Christchurch, March 1, 2, 4 (Match drawn) (7) b J.C.Alabaster 28 216 36 13 83 3 G.O.Rabone lbw 268 B.Sutcliffe c I.D.Craig J.C.Alabaster c W.J.Watson did not bat - 284-3d 17 6 32 0 112-2 132. Australia v New Zealand, Wellington, March 8, 9, 11 (Match drawn) (7) c M.E.Chapple b H.B.Cave 5 215 38 15 79 6 G.O.Rabone lbw 249 1 D.D.Taylor b J.R.Reid c R.B.Simpson M.E.Chapple c R.B.Simpson A.R.MacGibbon c B.N.Jarman J.C.Alabaster c R.N.Harvey (8) not out 3 146-6 133. Australians v Central Districts, New Plymouth, March 23, 25, 26 (Australians won by ten wickets) (6) b D.R.Tarrant 113 272 24.5 7 47 4 D.N.MacLeod b 176 J.W.Guy st B.N.Jarman D.D.Beard c B.N.Jarman D.R.Tarrant lbw did not bat - 58-0 32 10 75 4 J.W.Guy c and b 153 1 N.S.Harford c R.A.Gaunt D.D.Beard c L.F.Kline I.A.Colquhoun c B.N.Jarman 134. Australia v New Zealand, Auckland, March 29, 30, April 1 (Australia won by ten wickets) (7) c S.C.Guillen b H.B.Cave 42 350-8d 36 14 77 4 D.D.Taylor c P.J.P.Burge 198 1 J.R.Reid b S.C.Guillen c R.B.Simpson H.B.Cave b did not bat - 13-0 31 10 55 2 D.D.Taylor lbw 161 S.C.Guillen lbw 38