Former Australian PM Bob Hawke toasts a beer to hundreds of cricket fans dressed up as Richie Benaud. Courtesy Nine News.

Hawke downs another one for the country

LEGENDARY cricket commentator Richie Benaud has died at the age of 84. In honour of his memory, we've pulled together his 10 greatest lines in the commentary box.

Speaking of pulling, how about this for an opener:

1. “He’s usually a good puller but he couldn’t get it up that time.”

News_Image_File: Richie Benaud.



That’s just one of many moments of comic genius Benaud has provided over the years.

He’s occasionally taken the mickey out of players.

2. “Well, Bruce Reid is not the worst batsman there is at international level? But those who are worse would not need to hire the Myer Music Bowl to hold a convention.”

3. “And Glenn McGrath dismissed for two, just ninety-eight runs short of his century.”

4. (On a Justin Langer six) “He’s not quite got hold of that one. If he had, it would have gone for nine.”

And he delivered some other classic lines as well.

5. “The slow-motion replay doesn’t show how fast the ball was really travelling.”

6. “His throw went absolutely nowhere near where it was going.”

7. “Laird has been brought in to stand in the corner of the circle.”

8. “There were no scores below single figures.”

9. (After a streaker ran on the field): “There was a slight interruption there for athletics.”

And who can forget the way he accompanied Shane Warne’s Ball of the Century in 1993.

10. “Gatting has absolutely no idea what happened to it. (He) still doesn’t know.”

Here’s to you, Richie.