Benaud geared up for summer No.37 Channel Nine commentator Richie Benaud. Richie Benaud has confirmed Channel Nine's expectation that he will continue to be part of the network's cricket coverage into the new rights agreement. And, at 82, the icon of Australian cricket and television has not set a retirement date. In response to an email from Fairfax Media, Benaud said he would commence a 37th summer with Nine at the Gabba in November. "I saw what (Nine chief executive) David Gyngell said and yes, we would like to keeping going as Sports Consultants to Nine for whatever time we agree," Benaud said from France, where he and his wife, Daphne, are spending the northern summer. At last week's announcement of Cricket Australia's historic $590 million broadcast agreements with Nine and Ten, Gyngell said he could not imagine cricket without Benaud, who will be 83 when the home Ashes summer begins. Richie will do cricket for as long as he wants to do cricket. We'll never be telling Richie what he can and can't do. I'm always honoured to be in his presence as a person and I'm always interested in hearing what he has to say. Benaud has taken a back seat in recent summers and, while the former Australian captain and leg spinner is a treasured figure, there is also a desire within the network to regenerate the commentary box. Former captain Ricky Ponting and retired batsman Mike Hussey, both popular with young viewers, have been mentioned as possible inclusions. Benaud said it was too soon to say how Nine's coverage of the cricket might evolve, or how his on-air role might change. I don't know yet who the commentators with whom I'm working might be... That will be much closer to the Australian cricket season," he said.