A 'Marvellous' Innings comes to an end.

The man in The Cream, The Bone, The White, The Off-White, The Ivory and The Beige bids farewell.

Richie Benaud, a man of great wit and cricket knowledge has decided he will pull stumps on cricket commentary at the end of next summer, ending a career that will have spanned 46 years.

Speaking on Sydney Radio's 2GB, Benaud told listeners of his plans to hang up the mic. "I'll be doing Australian cricket next year, 2010, but I don't do any television at all anywhere else now and when I finish next year, then I'll be doing other things... That'll be no more television commentary."

The leader of Channel Nine's commentary team has been the voice of cricket to millions around Australia and all over the world for over 30 years. If you mentioned cricket, I bet you that a lot of people would say Richie Benaud. Such is significance of the man.

Richie has been involved in the media for more than half his life, most of that has involved commentating for Australia's Channel 9 and England BBC and Channel 4 telecasts.

He began in 1956, that as a columnist for a British tablod called News of the World. Benaud started commentary way before he retired, beginning radio commentary in 1960 for the BBC. A whole 4 years before he retired. A man who has seen so much cricket would have seen so many players. He labelled Sachin Tendulkar as the best batsman he has ever seen behind Sir Don Bradman. He also released his all time XI, which included Aussies Bradman, Lillee Gilchrist and Warne.

The man was a brilliant leader. He captained his country for 28 tests, and was a very good legspinner. He took 248 wickets, and was handy with the bat making over 200 runs at over 24. As captain, he never lost a series. 3 of those being the Ashes.

His commentary was so good that even brought Billy Birmingham his success for mimicking him and the rest of the channel 9 commentary team through "The 12th Man." It is well known that Benaud has a low opinion of the recordings due to profanities. He has also been impersonated by many around the world. Some poor, some brilliant.

Even though his time in the box in the last couple of years have been short, and the fact he has been taken over by Mark Nicholas to present the telecast, he will always be in our eyes the heart and soul of cricket commentary.

'Super effort that'.