Brian Booth dies aged 89: 31st Australian Test cricket captain passes away

One of Australia’s most decorated ex-Test cricket captains, who also played Olympic hockey, dies aged 89

  • Australia’s 31st Test cricket captain Brian Booth has died aged 89
  • Mr Booth also played hockey for Australia in the 1956 Olympics

Brian Booth, the captain of Australia’s 31st men’s test, has died aged 89.

Booth, who played 29 Tests for Australia, scored five Test centuries and was a key figure in Australia’s batting throughout the early 1960s.

Such was his athleticism, he also represented Australia in hockey at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

But it was in cricket where he made his name with 1773 Test runs at 42.21.

A classy midfield bat, Booth earned a century in his first home test against England in 1962 before scoring another in the next game at the MCG.

Revered Australian ex-Test cricket captain Brian Booth (pictured) has died aged 89

Booth played 29 Tests for Australia and also represented Australia in field hockey at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics

He averaged 50.5 as Australia held the Ashes at home before dominating South Africa the following summer with a further two Test tons.

The right-hander then had solid results in England in 1964 as Australia won the Ashes again, and was given the captain’s armband for two matches in 1965-66 with Bob Simpson out.

But at the same time his own batting trip stumbled and after the hosts were beaten heavily in the second of those matches, Simpson returned to the side and Booth was dropped.

“Captaining Australia was a privilege,” Booth said in an interview with Cricket Monthly in 2013.

Bobby Simpson was the regular captain and broke his arm just before the first test.

‘He came back for the second test in Melbourne and on the eve of the third, in Sydney, Sir Donald Bradman approached me in practice and said ‘Bob has chicken pox, Brian. You are the captain of tomorrow’.’

Booth’s omission prompted Bradman to write to him, telling him that he and his colleagues had ‘disliked’ letting him go from captaincy in three matches.

“I don’t think he’d ever done that (written to a player) before,” Booth said.

‘But I understood why. My scores weren’t good enough. I would hit double digits in most innings to get out.

“At a certain point I knew I would be passed over for someone who performs better. Ian Chappell and Keith Stackpole came into the squad and went on to have great careers.’

Booth scored five Test centuries and was a key cog in Australia’s batting throughout the early 1960s

Booth was later elected a Life Member of the Melbourne Cricket Club, received an MBE from the Queen in 1982 and was inducted into the NSW Cricket Hall of Fame in 2014.

“Brian was greatly respected and admired throughout the cricket community and beyond and we extend our deepest condolences to his wife Judy and their family and friends,” said Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia.

Fewer than 50 players have captained the Australian men’s test team and Brian’s name is on a list with many of the game’s greats.

“He had an extraordinary life and will be sadly missed. His contribution to cricket remains an inspiration and will always be remembered.”

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