He's been a summer fixture for as long as any of us can remember, as much a part of the long holiday as zinc cream, barbecues, stubbed toes and mosquito bites. 

With his luxuriant and uncommonly long grey hair and, of course, his award-winning collection of bone, fawn, off-white, biscuit, buff, camel, khaki, oatmeal, sand and tan jackets, Richie Benaud was Mr Cricket long before Michael Hussey even thought about strapping on a pad. 

The measured analysis, slightly lugubrious tones, wry asides, polished delivery and peerless knowledge. That was our Richie, the beige sage and Australian icon. 

And yet, in his 81st year, it is becoming clear that time has caught up with him and dimmed the quality of his output. 

The once-incisive and insightful commentary has become a masterclass in stating the bleedin' obvious. The sad truth is that he adds very little to the Channel Nine offering, apart from a reputation and CV without equal in the game. 

Some of the wry asides get a chuckle from his fellow-commentators but are often so cryptic as to be unintelligible. His analysis now tells us nothing that the TV pictures don't.

Nine has thrown him the new ball on the first two days of this first Test, giving him the opening half-hour's play. But tellingly, they've partnered him with two of the panel's best and brightest talents, Mark Taylor and Michael Slater, who've helped prop up their venerable colleague. 

And it is the introduction in recent years of that young(ish) pair, as well as Ian Healy, Mark Nicholas and Shane Warne that has not just revitalized Nine's cricket coverage, but served to highlight the inadequacy of the offering from Benaud, Tony Greig, Ian Chappell and the World Series brigade. 

All this is not easy to say. For who gets any joy out of slagging off a favourite uncle or even, for that matter, shooting Bambi? 

Of course it's hardly surprising that he's slowing up. Seven weeks after his 80th birthday and 46 years into his commentary career, who wouldn't be less sharp and less alert than when they first started out? 

Last year, it was announced this Ashes series would mark the end of his time behind the mike. A short time later, he revealed he had signed a three-year agreement with Nine to continue being part of its cricket coverage until 2013, although his role would change from that of ball-by-ball commentator. 

Which is a good thing. Because, on the evidence so far, he'll limp to the finish line in February.

So a plea from an admirer: no comebacks. Get out on top, Richie, before that hard-won reputation is tarnished in any way. Give it away while you're ahead - and leave us with the memories.