A graceful mid-level batsman, Booth represented Australia in 29 Tests between 1961 and 1966, including two captaincy duties. He averaged 42.21 runs in 1,773 runs, including five centuries.
UPDATE – Sat 5/20/23 10:41am
Sydney: Cricket Australia mourns the passing of former Australia and NSW captain Brian Booth MBE aged 89. Booth is survived by his wife Judy and four daughters.
A graceful mid-level batsman, Booth represented Australia in 29 Tests between 1961 and 1966, including two captaincy duties. He averaged 42.21 runs in 1,773 runs, including five centuries.
A dual-sport athlete, Booth represented Australia in field hockey at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
He made his NSW debut in the 1961 Ashes Tour and was rewarded for his consistent performances in NSW.
Booth then established himself in the Australian middle division and was promoted to vice-captain under Bob Simpson in 1964. He captained Australia for the first two Tests of the 1965-66 Ashes series in which Simpson was absent through injury and illness.
Booth represented NSW in 93 Sheffield Shield appearances with a score of 43.5 on 5,574 runs and was associated with St George’s DCC for life as a player, chairman and club sponsor until his death people.
He was also elected a Life Member of the MCC and was awarded an MBE by the Queen in 1982. He was inducted into the CNSW Hall of Fame in 2014.
Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said: “Brian was greatly respected and admired throughout cricket and beyond, and our deepest condolences go out to his wife Judy and their family and friends.
“Fewer than 50 players have ever captained the Australian men’s Test team and Brian’s name is included in a list that includes many of the sport’s greats.
“He lived an extraordinary life and we will regretfully miss him. His contribution to the game of cricket continues to be inspiring and will always be remembered.”
