His dulcet tones caressing our ears was the only thing missing from Australia's golden summer as England were swept aside in an Ashes whitewash. But Richie Benaud is eager to return to Channel 9's Wide World of Sport for the coming summer.

The doyen of sports broadcasters in Australia – and the unmistakable voice of cricket's television coverage since retiring from playing in 1964 – has quashed fears that he would never return to the airwaves.

Benaud, 83, crashed his 1963 Sunbeam Alpine after a trip to the driving range last October. He had been expected to return to commentary for the Sydney Test but was unable to after injuries to his sternum and shoulder and a broken vertebrae in his back.

Nine’s director of sport Steve Crawley visited Richie and his wife Daphne at their Coogee home last week.

“He looked and appeared much better than I could have hoped,” Crawley told The Sunday Telegraph. “He’s had a long-term handshake agreement with (Nine CEO) David Gyngell and that will continue.

“It’s a slow recovery but I have no doubt he will be back on Nine. He’s still very sharp and he doesn’t miss a thing.”

With strict doctor's orders not to fly, the Benauds are unable to visit their chateau in the French Riviera and will spend their first winter in Australia since 1971.