The widow of cricket great Richie Benaud has turned down the Australian prime minister’s offer of a state funeral, the Australian prime minister said on Sunday.
Tony Abbott told reporters: “My understanding is that Richie’s own wishes was for something very, very quiet and very, very private.”
Benaud, the former Test captain turned commentator, who died on Friday aged 84, will be remembered this week with a private gathering in Sydney, attended only by his immediate family.
Abbott had made the offer of a state funeral shortly after Benaud’s death because, he said, it was the greatest loss for Australian cricket since Don Bradman passed away. The prime minister described it as a mark of respect for a man who meant so much to millions of people in Australia and around the world.
But Benaud’s widow, Daphne, phoned Canberra on Saturday to decline the offer.
Benaud played 63 Tests for Australia, becoming he first player to score 2,000 Test runs and take 200 Test wickets. He led his country in 28 Tests and never lost a series as Australian captain, winning three Ashes series in a row against England.
A statue of Benaud stands at Sydney Cricket Ground, his home as a first-class cricketer for New South Wales, where flags flew half-mast and flowers were laid after his death.
He found even greater renown worldwide for his days in the commentating box and his unique presentation style. He commentated with the BBC and later for Channel 4 in the UK and also in his native Australia.
Benaud also helped revolutionise cricket in the late 1970s, advising Kerry Packer on the launch of World Series Cricket as a rebel competition against the Australian Cricket Board who refused to sell the media magnate broadcast rights to Test cricket,
Abbott described him as the voice of cricket while tributes were also paid by the British prime minister, David Cameron, who said he grew up listening to Benaud, and the current Australian test captain, Michael Clarke. BBC commentator Jonathan Agnew said Benaud was “a one-off”.
Benaud died from skin cancer complications. He had announced in November last year that he was fighting the disease.
The MCC flag at Lord’s has been lowered and will remain at half mast until the funeral.
