Those Summers of Cricket
Archie Mac |Published: 2015
Pages: 190
Author: Connolly, Paul (Editor)
Publisher: Hardie Grant
Rating: 4.5 stars
Those Summers of Cricket is an unabashed tribute to Richie Benaud which should become the standard for all such publications. An anthology with includes some of the finest writers, it is superbly edited with Paul Conolly displaying a fine eye, selecting only pieces that are both relative and of interest. The whole book is a credit to those involved from an angelic cover to lovely full colour photos throughout.
We follow Benaud from a lonely childhood, where he played solo cricket matches, to later life as the doyen of all cricket commentators. On the way we learn about Benaud the cricketer and the man. In both he presents as a dedicated and determined individual. Always polite and diplomatic but although it would have been justified, never conceited.
The book is divided into eight sections and with Conolly making use of digital newspaper research there are a few articles and facts that not even the Benaud connoisseur will be familiar with. These little snippets appear in separate text boxes throughout the book and materially add to the overall enjoyment. For instance we learn that at age 18 years Benaud scored nine out of ten goals in a soccer match, and one year later he missed 12 months of cricket after a fractured skull courtesy of a mistimed hook.
Other sections include Benaud the journalist, his involvement in World Series Cricket, his legendary commentary in both Australia and England, plus two short sections at the end. One of these is titled ‘Richie Benaud Moments’ and includes some of Benaud’s best commentary. All sections are lovingly compiled and contribute to the Benaud legend.
The editor dedicates just the right amount of space to the sections which deal with Benaud’s cricketing exploits which will be unknown to the vast majority of readers who only remember his dulcet commentary. Benaud the cricketer was a fast scoring lower order batsman and an accurate legspin bowler. He was also a superb fieldsman, usually in the gully. The young cricketer spent a long time in the Australian team as a player of potential rather than a successful cricketer. Eventually Benaud fulfilled his promise and cemented his place as one of the very best when he was surprisingly made captain of his country. His attitude to the role and skill, he never lost a series, changed the game and his name is always mentioned when it comes to a list of cricket’s best Test captains.
The only criticism of Those Summers of Cricket, is the lack of any criticism. For instance former Australia opener Sid Barnes often wrote negatively of Benaud in his popular column Like It or Lump It. While Barnes prose was not the best it was always entertaining and may have added another dimension to this book. Likewise one of my favourite Benaud stories is of a young Richie, an apple and his idol Keith Miller – told by R.S. Whitington – which I hoped would find a place in Those Summers of Cricket. The lack of censorious comment is the reason this book lost half a star but perhaps I have missed the point of a tribute book. I should also point out that my favourite Benaud, Miller and Bradman story is included.
There are some cricket books which I am reluctant to recommend to non cricket fanatics as they are not broad enough. I have no such reservations with Those Summers of Cricket, it will be cherished by all who have even a passing interest in the game. For if they have they will know the name of Richie Benaud and will love this book.
Leave a comment