Benaud Returns To TV For Ashes
Veteran cricket commentator Richie Benaud has joined Channel Five as part of its presenting team for this summer’s Ashes, in his first UK TV role since England’s historic win over Australia in 2005 when he announced his retirement from broadcasting in this country.
Benaud quit commentating in the UK following England’s momentous series win when Channel 4 lost live Test cricket coverage to Sky.
Since then, Five has shown a nightly highlights programme of domestic Test matches when the live rights were picked up by Sky from 2006.
Benaud will now return as part of Five’s presenting team for its highlights coverage, appearing on the Saturday of each Test match to analyse the day’s play with the main presenter, Mark Nicholas.
Benaud, who captained Australia in 28 of his 63 Tests, was a fixture of the BBC’s live TV Test cricket coverage and moved to Channel 4 when it picked up the rights in 1999. He continues to work for the Nine Network in Australia.
It looks as if his return to UK television could be the legendary cricketer’s last appearance, as he claimed he will retire from all television commentary at the end of next year.
