The Southend audience is entertained

SOUTHEND hosted Essex's tour match against Richie Benaud's Australians in 1961. Under the charming Benaud, that year's Aussie party was the most popular ever to visit these shores and the goodwill was reciprocated at Southend. Essex skipper Trevor Bailey, not a man noted for a carefree attitude towards captaincy, declared his team's first innings 44 behind after rain had taken out most of the second day.

Benaud responded with a timely declaration of his own so a large last-day crowd had some entertainment as Essex chased 195 in 140 minutes (a reasonable target with over-rates what they were back then).

The Aussies won by 55 runs after Graeme McKenzie took five.

Wonder whereabouts in Southend they stayed...