Includes bibliographical references (pages 217-220)

"To generations Richie Benaud was an astute observer of cricket, a fixture of television coverage. Behind the urbane public facade was a modest man whose firmness of opinion dictated that no one would ever write his official biography, and no friend of his should help an unofficial biographer. In Benaud, Brian Matthews instead offers a wide-ranging personal appreciation of the dashing player and innovative captian, the prolific author and revered commentator - but also the intensely private individual. From childhood backyard games and an encounter for the ages at Old Trafford in 1961 to Benaud's long heyday as the voice of cricket - via the Benaud family home in Sydney and ancestral home in France - Matthews traces the contours in the life of one of the greats. Erudite and enjoyable, this book lets us see Richie Benaud with fresh eyes."--Back cover.