Benaud is one of the earliest full-length biographies of Richie Benaud, written and published while he was still actively shaping his reputation as Australia’s most influential post-war cricketer and captain.
Authored by A. G. (“Johnnie”) Moyes — one of Australia’s most respected cricket journalists — the book provides a contemporary portrait of Benaud as a thinking all-rounder, tactician, and leader, rather than a retrospective legend. Moyes traces Benaud’s development from New South Wales prodigy to Test captain, with particular emphasis on his bowling craft, batting resilience, and calm authority on the field.
The narrative is firmly grounded in the cricketing context of the late 1950s and early 1960s, covering:
Benaud’s rise through Australian domestic cricket
His emergence as a leading Test all-rounder
The transformation of Australia’s Test side under his captaincy
His approach to leadership, sportsmanship, and attacking cricket
Illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs, the book captures Benaud at the height of his playing powers and reflects the tone of mid-century Australian cricket writing — measured, analytical, and respectful of the game’s traditions.
As a contemporary biography, Benaud offers insights unavailable in later works written after his retirement, making it an important reference point for collectors and historians of Australian Test cricket.
Benaud (1962) – A.G. Moyes | First Edition Richie Benaud Cricket Biography
First published: 1962
Publisher: Angus & Robertson Ltd
Place of publication: Sydney (with London, Melbourne, Wellington offices listed)
Format: Hardcover with dust jacket
Pagination: 205 pages
Illustrations: Black-and-white photographic plates throughout
Condition: Hardcover first edition with original dust jacket present. Olive green cloth boards are clean and well-preserved, with bright gilt lettering to the spine. Dust jacket shows minor age-related foxing to the surface, flaps, endpapers, and title page, but remains intact with no tears or losses. Interior pages are clean and firmly bound. No inscriptions; an old bookshop sticker is affixed to the inside front board. Overall condition Very Good, with light, honest wear consistent with age.
