Benaud had contributed 246 runs at 41 and taken wickets steadily to total 18 at 26. 94, averages which were in line with those of specialist batsmen and bowlers.

Benaud contributed 132 runs at 26. 4 and 31 wickets at the low average of 18. 83, as well as his shrewd and innovative captaincy.

Benaud had contributed 91 runs at 15. 16 and 29 wickets at 19. 59.

He had batted in all for 263 minutes, and his 94 runs included only two fours ; but Benaud ’ s defensive field-placing had contributed to that ".

Benaud produced an all-round performance of 46, 5 / 91 and 4 / 82 in the Fourth Test in Adelaide to take an unassailable 3-0 series lead and regain the Ashes, before scoring 64 and match figures of 5 / 57 to help take the Fifth Test and a 4-0 series result.

In the next Shield match against Victoria, led by Australian captain Lindsay Hassett, Benaud came in for attack.

Benaud returned and scored 37 and took a total of 2 / 68 in the final match, ending the season with 184 runs at 36. 80 and 11 wickets at 34. 63.

Benaud scored his maiden first-class century, 117 against South Australia, in the next match, two years after falling short of the milestone by seven runs.

Benaud then struck an unbeaten 100 and totalled 1 / 64 in the next match against Western Australia before the Australians departed for England.

Benaud had an unpenetrative match with the ball, taking 1 / 162.

Benaud had a heavy load in the match taking 8 / 199 after Davidson tore a hamstring mid-match.

In Adelaide, with Davidson absent, Benaud bowled long spells to take match figures of 7 / 207 in addition to a score of 77 in the first innings.

After Harvey led the team to victory at Lord's, Benaud had an unhappy return in the Third at Headingley scoring two runs in two innings and taking match figures of 2 / 108 as Australia lost within three days.

In an early tour match Benaud took his best first class innings haul of 18-10-18-7 for New South Wales against the MCC, which lost by an innings and 80 runs, the state's biggest win against the English team.

Benaud returned to form with match figures of 5 / 142 and 57 in the Fifth Test at Sydney, which ended in a painful draw when Benaud ordered Bill Lawry and Peter Burge to play out the last afternoon for a draw that would retain the Ashes.

Benaud did not bowl Meckiff from the other end, and at the end of the match Meckiff announced his retirement.

Benaud took 5 / 72 and scored 43 in the First Test, but then injured himself in a grade match, so Bob Simpson captained the team for the Second Test and won the match in Benaud's absence.

It was developed by the software company Turtlez Ltd. Having downloaded this, cricket fans would be treated to live Test match updates and weather reports from a cartoon version of Benaud with real voice samples such as " Got ' im!

This law also applies if part of the batsman's equipment is dislodged and hits the stumps: Dwayne Bravo hit Kevin Pietersen in the head with a bouncer and his helmet hit the stumps during the 2007 England vs West Indies Test match at Old Trafford ; a topspinner from Richie Benaud once knocked off Joe Solomon's cap, and the cap landed on Solomon's stumps.

Commentating on the match, Richie Benaud called Hughes's actions " as curious a captaincy decision as I have ever seen ".

In this match, Benaud had captained New South Wales and the hosts had the better of the play.

This included most of the first month of the tour ; Benaud hurt his shoulder in the first match against Worcestershire, and spent most of the next three weeks either not bowling or travelling to London away from his men for specialist treatment.

Benaud returned for the Third Test, when England levelled the series despite twin half-centuries of 73 and 53 from Harvey, who top-scored in both innings on a dustbowl in a match that lasted only three days.

John Benaud describes facing Thomson in a Sydney grade match:

Leg spinner Richie Benaud could not bowl for part of the match after being affected by a fever and left arm orthodox spinner John Wilson pulled a muscle midway through his debut.

Craig made 24 and put on 70 with Benaud to take his team towards victory, but the match eventually ended in a tie.

Other figures from the game – such as Richie Benaud, Dennis Lillee and Shane Warne – remain household names despite having retired years or decades ago.

Australia won the series 2 – 1, and although Benaud was below his best, scoring at 21. 77 and taking 23 wickets at 33. 87, the series was a success for cricket.

With the series balanced at 1-1, the Fourth Test at Old Trafford initially brought no improvement, with Benaud scoring 2 and taking 0 / 80 in the first innings.

Benaud then took four wickets in the drawn Fifth Test to end the series 2 – 1.

On a green pitch, Benaud came in at 7 / 96 and featured in a century partnership in only an hour, making 43 himself.

Benaud ended his season with 97 and a total of 3 / 39 in an innings win over South Australia.

In eight first-class matches after his Test campaign was over, Benaud added a further half-century in addition to the century against Pearce's XI, and took 22 more wickets, including 4 / 20 against the Gentlemen of England.

Benaud scored 78 and 68 and took a total of 5 / 238, his victims being Davidson and frontline Test batsmen in a 121-run win.

The first of these came in the First Test at Johannesburg, where after conceding 1 / 115, Benaud struck 122, his highest Test score, to see Australia reach a draw.

In the Second Test at Cape Town, Benaud took 4 / 95 and then 5 / 49 in the second innings to secure an innings victory after the home team were forced to follow on.

Benaud struck exactly 100 in the first innings, before taking 4 / 70 in South Africa's reply.

When South Africa followed on, Benaud took 5 / 84, which left Australia needing only one run to win.

Benaud took 4 / 69 and 4 / 42 in the First Test in Dhaka ( now in Bangladesh ), sealing Australia's first win in Pakistan.

Benaud made a strong start to the series against India, taking 3 / 0 in the first innings of the First Test in Delhi, before a 5 / 76 second innings haul secured an innings victory.

Benaud had less of an impact on the next two Tests, which Australia lost and drew, totalling 6 / 244.

Australia had fallen to 6 / 92 on the final day chasing a target of 233 with Benaud and Davidson at the crease.