Richie Benaud was 'erudite and meticulous' says Tony Lewis

Former England and Glamorgan captain Tony Lewis has paid tribute to his "terrific" friend and colleague Richie Benaud.

Benaud, the former Australia captain and legendary cricket commentator, has died at the age of 84.

Lewis played alongside and later worked as a broadcaster with Benaud.

"He was erudite and meticulous in preparation and a great lesson to all broadcasters of how you go about your job," Lewis said.

"It may sound easy at the end but it's the work that goes before and he was terrific at that.

"He was very unselfish in the help he gave people. If you'd ask advice he'd give it but he wouldn't force it.

Benaud enjoyed a long association with the BBC following his first radio appearance for the corporation in 1960 and worked with Lewis on television coverage in the 1980s and 1990s.

But their friendship had developed during their careers as players when Lewis, a County Championship winner with Glamorgan in 1969, captained England on his Test debut.

Benaud also skippered his country and never lost a Test series as Australia captain, winning five and drawing two.

He took 945 wickets in 259 first-class matches and made 11,719 first-class runs, scoring 23 centuries at an average of 36.50.

"I anchored the TV coverage for 15 years alongside him but going back further I played against him in 1962 and I toured Pakistan with him in 1968," Lewis told BBC Radio Wales.

"He captained the Commonwealth side, which was one of the familiar touring parties in those days, and we spent two months in Pakistan.

"If you spent two months in Pakistan playing cricket you get to know each other pretty well and we became terrific friends. He was a gentleman."