Richie, Classic Catches and more: Why Channel 9 was one of its kind

#1 Commentary

From the ecstatic "Got him!" of the ever-cheerful Bill Lawry, to his hilarious on-air banter with the fellow commentator, the combative and optimistic Tony Greig accompanied by his iconic hat and pitch assessing key, Nine managed to assemble without a doubt the best ever commentary team. Unbridled, sans any shackles of diplomacy, these men called cricket like nobody else. The stoic aura of Chappelli, the specialist Mark Nicholas who gelled all the opinionated personalities together to orchestrate a brand of a broadcast that has set the benchmark for years to come.

Also if you are looking for that one name, I've been saving the best for the conclusion, then here it is. Richie Benaud. The celebrated Australian leg-spinner and the former captain is without a doubt the voice of cricket on television. He did the post-match wrap-ups with a lucidity that it described the action better than the highlights reel. Never shy or daunted to voice his thoughts, he truly was the best thing about cricket on Nine's Wide World of Sports.

Benaud's commentary will always remain one of the greatest things about the sport and was even immortalized by EA Sports in their raving popular game, Cricket 07. Does not matter how many times you mod that game, you'll always hear "..that has to be close.." and "..he's played all around it.." in Richie's sage-like voice that brought mystic serenity into an otherwise frenetic sport.

And who can forget the tchus.

Adieu, Nine. It was good fun.