SYDNE, (AP):

A private funeral and commemoration service attended by ex-players Shane Warne and Ian Chappell was held yesterday for former Australia cricket captain and commentator Richie Benaud.

Benaud died last Friday at the age of 84 of complications from skin cancer. His wife, Daphne, declined a government offer for a state funeral in favour of a smaller service at the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park attended only by family and close friends.

Special person

Benaud's former team-mate, Brian Booth, led the service.

In the memorial booklet, his family described Benaud as "a special person who means so much to each of us in many different ways".

Later at a commemoration service, Warne and Chappell were joined by former Australia captain Mark Taylor and current test skipper Michael Clarke.

Benaud, considered one of the most influential cricket identities of the past century, played 63 tests for Australia but was more well known for his career in the commentating booth.

Taylor said following Benaud's death that the celebrated television personality covered all the bases.