Benaud, considered one of the most influential cricket identities of the past century, had been fighting skin cancer and died overnight in a Sydney hospice.
A veteran of 63 test matches, Benaud played a pivotal role in the formation of World Series Cricket in the 1970s and was one of the world's most recognized commentators, anchoring the Nine Network's cricket coverage for decades and calling the game in many countries around the world.
In 2013, Benaud was involved in a car crash outside his Coogee home in eastern Sydney that left him with two fractured vertebrae and ended his time in the commentary box.
Nine reported that Benaud's wife, Daphne, and other family members were by his side when he died.
"Richie Benaud's passing has robbed us not only of a national treasure but a lovely man," Nine Network chief executive David Gyngell said in a statement. "Richie earned the profound and lasting respect of everyone across the world of cricket and beyond. First as an outstanding player and captain, then as an incomparable commentator and through it all, as a wonderful human being."
Australian test captain Michael Clarke said Benaud was a gentleman who played cricket in the right spirit.
Aussie cricket legend Richie Benaud dies at age 84
Benaud's voice to be missed forever from the airwaves
The moments of silence across the globe as cricket fans reflect on Richie Benaud's life will speak volumes about his contribution to the game.
It was the frequent pauses — the air time between comments — as much as the insightful observations and dry wit that endeared the elegant former Australian test captain to people who followed cricket.
He spoke with an assured authority, clipping his words in a distinctive manner that spurred so much reverent mimicry that added to his appeal.
Benaud, who was born on Oct. 6, 1930 at Penrith in Sydney's outer west, died on Friday at the age of 84 from complications from skin cancer.
He took months to recover from chest and shoulder injuries after crashing his vintage sports car on the way home from a round of golf in October, 2013.
Last November, he revealed he was receiving treatment for skin cancer.
"When I was a kid we never ever wore a cap ... because (teammate) Keith Miller never wore a cap," Benaud said at the time. "If I knew, when I was at school and playing in my early cricket days, the problems that would have come if I didn't do something about protection of the head and using sunscreens and all sorts of things like that, I'd have played it differently."
Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards said Friday "our country has lost a national treasure."
"After Don Bradman, there has been no Australian player more famous or more influential than Richie Benaud," Edwards said in a statement. "Richie stood at the top of the game throughout his rich life, first as a record-breaking leg-spinner and captain, and then as cricket's most famous broadcaster who became the iconic voice of our summer
Benaud's life revolved around cricket, and his involvement took on many forms from student and player, to newspaper reporter, writer, radio broadcaster and TV host.
He played 63 tests for Australia, making his debut against the West Indies in 1952 and culminating in 1964 against South Africa, a transformative period in the game.
A dashing, attacking lower-order batsman and skilled leg-break bowler, he was the first player to score 2,000 runs and take 200 wickets in test cricket. When he retired, his career haul of 248 test wickets was an international record.
As a captain, he never lost a series and was credited with helping re-enliven the test format after a period of staid, defensive stalemates that had slowed the game to an almost glacial pace and attracted widespread criticism.
He encouraged his batsmen to lift their scoring tempo, his bowlers to cut down the time taken between deliveries and overs and his fielders to be ever ready. A tied test against the West Indies in 1961, the first in history, added to his legend.
Benaud batted down the order for Australia, and tallied 2,201 runs from 97 innings at a respectable 24.45, including three centuries and nine half centuries.
His 248 wickets came at an average of 27.03, with best innings figures of 7-72.
He ventured from newspaper reporting into TV after doing some training at the British Broadcasting Commission before he'd finished playing test cricket. When wealthy Australian businessman Kerry Packer was looking for somebody to help him revolutionize the game at the start of the World Series Cricket era in 1977, he persuaded Benaud to join his broadcast team to give the controversial concept the kind of standing it needed to supplement the high-profile stars he'd recruited to play.
Benaud continued to split his time between Australia and Britain, accumulating a cache of experience that exceeded 500 tests and making him a household name in both places. He was considered a master of understatement, and the rye remark. When calling Shane Warne's first ball in an Ashes test in 1993 — later dubbed the ball of the century — Benaud famously said Mike Gatting "has no idea what has happened to it," quickly analyzing the wicket before adding as the England batsman trudged off: "He still doesn't know."
In later years, he advised Warne on the art of commentary, and arguably the greatest bowler of all time knew his place.
"He's just one of the great men, Richie," Warne said. "He's sort of a captain of the team and whatever Richie says goes."
Benaud was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1962, one of the highest accolades in the game.
"If one player, more than any other, has deserved well of cricket for lifting the game out of the doldrums, that man is Richard Benaud," Wisden noted in its profile. "Captain of Australia in four successive and triumphant series to the end of 1961, he has demonstrated to enthusiasts all over the world that the intention to make cricket, particularly test cricket, attractive and absorbing is every bit as important as skilled technique in batting, bowling and fielding."
Benaud's last broadcast in England after 42 years was at the last test of the Ashes series at The Oval in 2005, when the English reclaimed the old urn.
On the final day, the stadium announcer let the crowd know it was Benaud's last day, and the capacity crowd rose for a standing ovation.
Australian players in the field, including Warne and Glenn McGrath, clapped above their heads.
As the test was winding toward a draw on the last evening, Benaud's live TV monologue segued from his fondness for a particular song to his own departure.
"That wonderful duet, 'A Time To Say Goodbye.' And that's what it is, as far as I'm concerned. Time to say goodbye," he said. "Thank-you for having me. It's been absolutely marvelous for 42 years."
Benaud is survived by his second wife, Daphne, who was at his bedside Friday with other members of his family when he died. Benaud's younger brother, John, was also a former journalist and played three test matches for Australia and in 47 first-class games.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has offered the family a state funeral and flags will fly at half-staff on the day of the funeral.
"He was a great player and a great captain; a wonderful leader of men and he continued that off the field," Clarke said. "He loved winning. He helped the Australian team have the attitude where they wanted to win.
"He played the game the right way."
Benaud, born in Penrith outside Sydney, had a memorable test career as a wily leg-spin bowler and middle-order batsman which began in 1952 and ended in 1964.
He was the first player to score 2,000 test runs and take 200 test wickets but was most highly regarded not for his individual achievements but his captaincy — he never lost a test series as Australian captain.
After retiring, Benaud became a commentary icon initially with the BBC in England and later in his native Australia. His measured and laconic commentary style was fodder for imitators and cricket fans across the world.
He was the mainstay in Australian cricket television commentary until the past two summers when the car accident forced him from his duties.
He announced in November he was fighting skin cancer.
"When I was a kid we never ever wore a cap . . . because (teammate) Keith Miller never wore a cap," Benaud said at the time. "If I knew, when I was at school and playing in my early cricket days, the problems that would have come if I didn't do something about protection of the head and using sunscreens and all sorts of things like that, I'd have played it differently.
"It's one of those things in life: you live and learn as you go along."
Benaud did, however, manage to voice a touching tribute to Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died during a match last November, which was screened before Australia's test series against India last December.
