Brian Booth

Brian Charles Booth (19 October 1933 – 19 May 2023) was an Australian cricketer who played in 29 Test matches between 1961 and 1966, and 93 first-class matches for New South Wales.

In 1950, Booth represented New South Wales Country against a combined Sydney team, and moved to St. George to play on a weekly basis two years later.

He made the first grade team at the age of 19 and began a four-year course at Sydney Teachers College.

Booth also played hockey in Perthville and began playing for St George upon his arrival in Sydney.

Born near the New South Wales country town of Bathurst, Booth moved to Sydney in 1952 and played in the grade cricket competition while training to become a teacher.

He made his first-class debut for the New South Wales cricket team and came to prominence in dramatic circumstances in his second match, against the touring Englishmen in 1954–55.

Due to late withdrawals, Booth was selected at late notice and had to be called from work on the morning of the match.

Arriving after the start of the match, he scored 74 following a batting collapse.

Booth made his first-class debut for New South Wales against Queensland in the 1954–55 Sheffield Shield.

He made a duck in the first innings before adding 19 in the second.

New South Wales won, but Booth was dropped when the Test players returned from international duty.

Booth was recalled a month later for a match against Len Hutton's English cricket team at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Arthur Morris and Bill Watson had to withdraw at late notice and Booth was asked to play, having already started his day's work as a teacher at Hurlstone Agricultural College.

He caught a train and arrived at the ground more than half an hour after the start of play, by which time New South Wales had collapsed to 3/12.

New South Wales fell further to 5/26 before Booth came in with a borrowed cap and bat to join Peter Philpott.

They put on an 83-run partnership, and Booth eventually finished the innings unbeaten on 74 as the hosts folded for 172.

Booth made a duck in the second innings and took his maiden first-class wicket as New South Wales defeated Hutton's men.

It was only the tourists' second loss for the campaign, and the last match in Booth's debut season.

Booth had a low key season in 1955–56, struggling to find a regular position in the New South Wales team.

As there were no international matches during the summer, the Test players were available for the whole campaign.

Booth struggled to make an impression early in his career and missed a season to train with the Australian field hockey team for the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.

Upon returning to first-class cricket in 1957–58, he held down a regular position in the state team while the Test players were touring overseas.

Booth gradually progressed and gained selection on the 1959–60 Australian Second XI tour to New Zealand.

Booth was selected for the Australian team that toured England in 1961 and played in the final two Tests.

Upon his return to Australia, Booth made two centuries in the 1962–63 home Test series against England, establishing himself in the Test team.

He made two further centuries the following summer against South Africa and was named the Australian player of the year.

Following the retirement of Richie Benaud, Booth was appointed vice-captain under Simpson as Australia embarked on a successful 1964 tour of England, which saw the retention of the Ashes.

He captained Australia in two Tests during the 1965–66 Ashes series while regular Captain Bob Simpson was absent due to illness and injury.

Booth was a graceful right-handed middle order batsman at No. 4 or 5, and occasionally bowled right arm medium pace or off spin.

He had an inclination to use his feet to charge spin bowlers.

Booth was known for his sportsmanship on the field and often invoked Christianity while discussing ethics and sport.

Booth played his final Test series in 1965–66 against England, captaining Australia in the First and Third Tests because Simpson was sidelined with a broken wrist and chickenpox respectively.

The First Test was drawn but Australia fell to its first innings defeat in almost ten years in the Third Test.

As he was also in a form slump, Booth was dropped as the Australian selectors made mass changes, ending his career.

In retirement, Booth returned to his teaching duties and served as a Baptist lay-preacher.

He was inducted into the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame in 2014.

The son of "Snowy" Booth, a market gardener and talented country cricketer, Booth was born in Perthville, located 9 km outside the New South Wales regional town of Bathurst.

His father hung pictures of Don Bradman and Stan McCabe on the wall and told him that "these are the two greatest living cricketers".

Booth represented Bathurst High School at the age of 13 and played first grade cricket in Bathurst at 15.

He was selected for a New South Wales youth countryside at the age of just 14.