Benaud signs for three more seasons

The voice of Australian cricket will be heard for at least three more seasons after Richie Benaud accepted a deal to stay in the commentary box. Speculation of Benaud's retirement had grown to the extent that an apparent successor had been agreed in Mark Nicholas, the former England A captain.

But Nine today ended the rumours that Benaud, 74, was hanging up the microphone and beige jackets. "Richie is an icon of Australian cricket and he has signed a contract to stay on for another three years," the spokesman Jamie Campbell said. "He loves the game. Cricket is his passion and his life and he has no intention of stopping as a commentator any time soon." Campbell said there was no point discussing potential replacements for Benaud, who started with the network in 1977.

Campbell also said Ian Chappell was being rested from the Adelaide Test as part of the commentary team's rotational policy, a method under consideration for Australia's bowlers. "There are three different teams coming to Australia this summer and overseas commentators will be used," Campbell said. "As a result we have Tests where the commentators have the chance to take a break." Chappell was reportedly angry at the move.