Former Australian Test captain and Olympian Brian Booth MBE has died aged 89.
The popular sportsman, who completed 29 Tests for Australia from 1961 to 1966 and also represented his country in ice hockey at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, is honoured.
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A prolific middle-order hitter, Booth hit 1,773 runs at a 42.21 average during his stellar career, including five centuries.
Originally from Bathurst, the right-hander relocated to Sydney and quickly became a key member of the St George team. He later represented the NSW Blues 93 times in the Sheffield Shield.
Booth became a legend at St George District Cricket Club after winning the Premier League in his first season (1952/53) and hitting an incredible 10,674 runs on 45.4, including 23 Centurys, the club record.
Booth was voted to St George District Cricket Club’s Team of the Century in 2010, was a member of the Hall of Fame and received a lifetime membership award in 1970.
Stylish and elegant, the batsman became a star for the NSW Blues, scoring 5577 runs at 43.5. He received lifetime membership in 1974 and was inducted into the CNSW Hall of Fame in 2014.
Booth was rewarded for his outstanding performances at NSW and was selected for Australia on the 1961 Ashes tour to England where he made his Test debut.
The great cricketer became a regular for the Australia Test team and his leadership skills saw him become Bob Simpson’s vice-captain in 1964.
Booth had the honor of refereing Australia during the first two Tests of the 1965–66 Ashes series.
In 1969 Booth became a life member of the MCC and in 1982 he received an MBE from the Queen.
7Cricket commentator and former NSW and Australian cricketer Trent Copeland said Booth played an important role for him throughout his career.
“Words can’t really describe what Mr. Booth meant to me and I’m sure neither can many others!” Copeland wrote on Twitter
“All the way back to our hometown of Bathurst, his mentorship at @stgeorgedcc, the introduction of my @CricketNSWMen Baggy Blue and just being one of the nicest people, really.”
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said Booth will be greatly missed.
“Brian was immensely respected and admired throughout the cricket community and beyond and we send our deepest condolences to his wife Judy and their family and friends,” Hockley said in a statement.
“Less than 50 players have captained the Australia men’s test team and Brian’s name is on a list with many of the game’s all-time greats.
“He had an extraordinary life and we will miss him dearly. His contribution to cricket continues to be an inspiration and will always be remembered.”
Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon said Booth will be remembered as a man everyone loved.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Brian Booth and our sincere condolences go out to his wife Judy, daughters and friends,” Germon said in a statement.
“Brian’s accomplishments on the field and as a leader are well documented and the fact that he captained Australia and New South Wales in cricket and played ice hockey for Australia at the home Olympics shows just how special he was as an athlete.”
“But that’s only part of who Brian was and it was his respectful, polite and friendly manner off the field that will be remembered by everyone he came into contact with.”