. >>> he was the voice of cricket richie ben as commentary was as legendary as the cricketing he wascribal even describing. he also captained the australian national side when practically everything there was to win andrew thomas looks back on his career. >> reporter: to australians, he was the sound of summer. the voice of cricket. >> isn't that one of the most brilliant things you have seen first of all you have to find out if they are still there. yep, he's just checked. [ laughter ] >> reporter: his commentary a coupled hundreds of matches the one constant whether all inning teams won lost, or drew. >> he end the stands. >> reporter: in his day richie mostly won. he played 63 times for his country. took more than 200 test crickets and scored more than 2,000 runs. as captain he never lost a series. >> a run in for five. >> first innings table of 24 two, not very good that. but it was after he retired from playing the game after hanging up his green cap that he went from sports star to legends. as the king of cricket commentators. >> let me tell what you i think about it, it was di

messages that give a flavor of how much richie benaud will be missed. bennd, bbc news. >> well, joining me now is a man who worked closely with richie benaud for many years, a cricket commentator and analysis simon hughes. thanks very much for joining us. tell us a little bit about richie because he had an impact on you, didn't he? >> he was an amazing man. the two words that would sum him up for me would be enthusiasm about the game and a total infatuation. it was very enfek infek chous. he was all the first guy in the commentary box, building his little nest his laptop his banana sandwiches, laws of the game a little book, which he'd always be referring to. he was fascinating by new developments in the game. a lot of older people would have been a bit suspicious he totally embraced it and was very enthusiastic and actually gave the channel 4 conch which he joined in '99 9, the credible that it needed. and he had this incredible enthusiasm. i first broadcast with him in 1990 on the bbc, and he was sort of a mentor to me, in a way. he encouraged me to inves

. >> reporter: ben behind the microphone was for a long time essential for the game. >> richie has been voice of cricket. there have been very few australians who have not passed a summer in the presence of richie. >> i don'ting think we'll be able to be released. i have always seen him as the godfather of cricket. >> reporter: his long illness with skin cancer when he went public he implored young players to wear cream and a cap. but it was a car crash two years ago that ended his media career. >> hi there, what a difference this makes. >> reporter: richie will be remembered as a great cricketer, and an even greater commentator. the ambassador for the game who had the golden tone. >> there was a very nice and very memorable moment. >> andrew thomas al jazeera, sydney. >>> quite a legacy there. you can always visit our website as well for all of the latest on the stories we have covered. that is aljazeera.com. >> go! go! go! >> severe storms tear through three states causing major destruction. communities picking up the pieces today. >>> president obama speaks with raul castro ahead of

ben says the camp must be stabilized immediately. syria has yet to respond to the allegations about using barrel bombs. >> the cricket world is mourning the passing of richie benaud. during his long and storied broadcasting career he became so renowned he was called the voice of cricket. benaud's voice was more present than the chirping of the cicadas, but that voice is tragically now still. we remember him with tremendous affection. >> again, the death of richie benaud was devastating. >> it is an historic first in panama. leaders from the united states and cuba expected to meet face to face and a big announcement could be coming. we will have that ahead here. china staking claim on islands in the south china sea. but some believe they're not their islands to take. hey, girl. is it crazy that your soccer trophy is talking to you right now? it kinda is. it's as crazy as you not rolling over your old 401k. cue the horns... just harness the confidence it took you to win me and call td ameritrade's rollover consultants. they'll help with the hassle by guiding you through the whole process step by step. and they'll even call your old provider. it's easy. even