Sydney, Nov 15 Former Australian cricketer Richie Benaud, a highly regarded commentator since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has decided to extend his relations with Channel 9 after he agreed to a three-year deal with the channel.

The 79-year-old is into his last summer, but his new contract would take him through to April 1, 2013, and into his 83rd year.

"I had expressed to (head of sport) Steve Crawley and others that I wanted to keep working for Channel 9 and I wanted to be on the cricket. That's what it is. We (Gyngell and Benaud) shook hands on it over lunch at Otto (restaurant) and we'll be signing a new contract in the very near future," The Herald Sun quoted Benaud, as saying.

"I won't be doing live commentary. Someone asked me: 'Does that mean you'll never again go into the commentary box? Well, if there is, as there always can be, some emergency or a sensational happening on or off the field where it would be quite ridiculous not to go into the commentary box, of course I'll be in there doing my job and doing it as professionally as I can. But I won't be on the live commentary roster," he added.

Benaud further said that he would try his hand in different options as he has got a great grasp of both television and cricket, and have been in the business for a long time.

"You don't get tired from work. Daphne (his wife) and I have been working together in Benaud and Associates for 42 years," Benaud said.

"I will be doing all sorts of, what I regard as, interesting things for Channel 9 on the cricket (coverage), special features on the cricket and David was pretty happy with that, Steve is happy with that and Daphne and I are happy with that as well because we didn't want to move anywhere else," he added. (ANI)