Left field

Australia look good but Symonds omission could weigh

In an earlier post, Julian Linden argued that Australia’s cricketers have all the firepower needed to retain the Ashes in England despite some relatively new faces in the squad.

Here Ed Osmond takes a different view, wondering if the absence of Andrew Symonds and Australia’s lack of spin options may help the English.

England should be highly delighted by Australia’s decision to omit all-rounder Andrew Symonds from their Ashes squad.

The big Queenslander may have had disciplinary issues over the past year, but his cricketing ability should not be under-estimated.

Always a talented stroke player, Symonds has added steel and composure to his batting, which he showed in making vital test centuries against England in Melbourne in 2006 and India in Sydney in 2008.

His gentle medium-pacers or off-spinners do not usually cause too many problems for batsmen but Symonds has a presence which makes him an ideal potential partnership breaker and he is one of the best outfielders in world cricket.

Cricket’s model professional to declare at last

In the Australian summer of 1982 Richie Benaud was approached by “a fair-haired angelic little lad of about 12″.

“Did you ever play cricket for Australia, Mr Benaud?” the cherub asked.

Benaud, a dashing all-rounder and one of Australia’s great captains, recalled he had not known whether to laugh or cry. “I did neither but merely said yes,” he replied.

A generation later, Benaud’s playing days have slipped further into obscurity. When he retires from television commentary in a year’s time, it will have been 46 years since he last stepped on to the field in a test match.

Benaud’s French ancestry and bronzed good looks made him an instantly attractive figure on the world’s playing fields during the monochromatic 1950s. He was a stylish, if erratic batsman, and acrobatic gully fielder.

To add to his aura he was also a leg-spinner, the most exotic of the bowling arts, with a wonderfully fluid action that was by itself almost worth the entry price. As a captain he was openly enthusiastic in an undemonstrative era.

Yet Benaud was always more roundhead than cavalier, possessed of a relentless work ethic which was the key to his deceptively seamless transition from test cricketer to media doyen.

Richie Benaud prepares for final delivery

Richie Benaud, the doyen of cricket commentary, will retire from television next year.

The 78-year-old former Australia captain told Sydney radio he was quitting after his current contract ends in 12 months. “I’ll be doing Australian cricket next year, 2010, but I don’t do any television at all anywhere else now and when I finish next year, then I’ll be doing other things,” he said.

I grew up listening to Benaud’s commentary on Test cricket and always appreciated the way he could deliver such well informed analysis in such a modest and relaxed style.

We’ll have a proper appreciation of Benaud on the blog tomorrow but for now I’ll leave you with my favourite Benaudism*:

“My mantra is: put your brain into gear and if you can add to what’s on the screen then do it. Otherwise, shut up.”

Goodnight, Richie.

* Apart from “Morning everyone,” obviously.