Australia v India: Hundreds of Richie Benauds bring a smile back to cricket

RICHIE Benaud might have missed calling the SCG Test against India due to illness but that doesn’t mean spectators aren’t seeing the Australian cricket commentary doyen everywhere they look.

Day 2 of the Australia vs India Test Series Cricket match at Sydney Cricket Ground today. Pictured are 'The Richies', Dozens of Richie Benaud impersonators, enjoying the match as Smith makes his 100. Photo: Tim Hunter.

RICHIE Benaud might have missed calling the SCG Test against India due to illness but that doesn’t mean spectators aren’t seeing the Australian cricket commentary doyen everywhere they look.

Three hundred Richies piled into the SCG this morning for day two of the fourth Test — a day they have unofficially dubbed Richies Day.

'The Richies', dozens of Richie Benaud impersonators, enjoying the match. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Picture: Tim Hunter.

Begun seven years ago in 2009 with a group of just 10 friends, the gang of Richies has swelled in 2015 after almost doubling each year.

Wearing grey wigs, carrying an oversized Channel Nine microphone and wearing Benaud’s trademark bone-coloured suit despite the heat, the Richies are out in force to honour one of Australia’s cricketing icons.

Glenn McGrath meeting 'The Richies' and donning a wig and coat as dozens of Richie Benaud impersonators arrive outside the stadium for the match. Picture: Tim Hunter.

One man — who wanted to be known simply as Richie — said he’d been attending the SCG Test in full Benaud kit for two years.

“The whole thing started years ago when there were rumours Richie was set to retire from the commentary team,” he said.

“A couple of guys wanted to pay tribute to a great cricketer, a great commentator and a great man so the Richies were born.

“I’m fairly new but it’s just a great day out with mates and with the man himself unable to be here this year we have some big shoes to fill.”

Dozens of Richie Benaud impersonators file into the stadium. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Starting as a group of ten mates the Richies have doubled in size each year and hope to fill an entire bay in future. Picture: Tim Hunter.

There aren’t many rules to being a Richie except you must look the part and you must speak into your microphone at all times.

The Richies hope to one day fill an entire bay at the SCG and if year-on-year growth is anything to go by they aren’t too far away.

Day three of the SCG Test is officially known as Jane McGrath Day in honour of paceman Glenn McGrath’s late wife and the Richies hope day two will one day be officially recognised as Richies Day.

Richie Benaud impersonators in full song during the match. Picture: Tim Hunter.

A sea of Benaud turned part of the SCG into a beige and grey blur. Picture: Tim Hunter.

They are certainly a crowd favourite and in the words of the legend himself: Marvellous.

Benaud was expected to make his return to the commentary box for the first time since injuring a number of vertebrae in a car crash in 2013, but after revealing last year he was fighting skin cancer, he is focusing on his recovery.

And after a solemn SCG paid its respects to Phillip Hughes yesterday, the Richies played a big part in restoring smiles to the crowd as Australia piled on the first innings runs, with Steve Smith scoring yet another hundred in the process.

Here comes a ‘Richette’. Picture: Tim Hunter.