Published: Nov 11, 2014, 03:52 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 11, 2014, 03:52 PM (IST)
London: Nov 11, 2014
Former Australian cricketer and legendary commentator Richie Benaud has revealed that he is ready to call again, despite his ongoing battle with skin cancer.
Benaud, who made his first public appearance in more than a year on Monday and looked frail at Channel Nine’s cricket season launch at the SCG, is preparing to call his final summer of cricket while undergoing chemotherapy for skin cancer.
The revelation came as Benaud opened up for the first time about his battle with cancer on his forehead and neck, urging Australians to cover up as he lamented his own obliviousness to the dangers of the sun during his famed playing career as an iconic, tanned leg-spinner, The Daily Telegraph reported.
The 84-year-old, who is under chemotherapy for treating skin cancer, has not slowed down his will to get behind the microphone again.
Benaud has told Channel Nine heavyweights that he is ready to call again, having missed last summer due to the cancer and a car accident that left him with a fractured sternum.
But Nine’s head of sport Steve Crawley said that if Benaud returned, it would be in a vastly reduced role to that which cricket fans have been used to over the years.
Crawley claimed that the most likely would be that Benaud would do the Sydney Test because he can drive there. He added that he would love to have the iconic commentator on Boxing Day at the MCG, but Benaud is going to have to make the call.
Crawley also claimed that he does not imagine they would ever see a situation where Benaud would call a five-day Test from day one to day five, that’s not going to happen.
He also said that if the former Australia spinner does call again and when he does call again, it would be for an agreed stint, whether it’s tea on Boxing Day, or it’s half-an-hour of the final session leading into the news, whatever it is.
Crawley admitted that knowing him, Benaud would call again. He said that if it was just about anyone else, one would say no, but added that Benaud thinks he’s going to call again and his wife Daphne thinks he’s going to call again.
Crawley further stated that a lot of people at the SCG might not think Benaud’s going to call again, but added that if anyone would it would be him, at 84.
