Legendary broadcaster and commentator Richie Benaud has died, aged 84.
Benaud, an Australian institution, was the star of Meat & Livestock Australia’s latest Australia Day ad campaign – deemed by many as one of the MLA's greatest ads, thanks largely to Benaud's appearance.
In his decades in the media industry, Benaud fronted Nine's cricket commentary and is revered by many as the voice of cricket in Australia.
Nine CEO David Gyngell this morning called Benaud a “national treasure”.
“Richie is a true legend, not only to all the people who knew him, but to the many millions who didn’t. Which speaks volumes. He’s been part of the Australian psyche,” he said.
Two weeks ago, the MLA's ad, in which Benaud invites a gang of Aussie heroes over for an Australia Day barbeque, was named the best Australian Cinema Ad of the Year in the Val Morgan ACES Awards. MLA brand manager Andrew Howie spoke about the need for marketers to be brave and at the time praised Benaud's role in the ad.
Nine's head of sport Steve Crawley also paid tribute: "You didn’t have to know Richie to love him – everything about him. Best in the business bar none. We will miss him the way you miss loved ones. And at the same time we will thank our lucky stars he came our way at all."
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