Bill Brown

Bill Brown (July 31, 1912 - March 16, 2008)

The cricketing community is mourning the death of one of Australias test greats, Bill Brown, after he passed away aged 95.

Born in Toowoomba in 1912, Brown moved to Sydney as a child. Brown initially trained as a wicket-keeper in his youth, before turning his attention to opening the batting.

After struggling in both work and cricket at the start of the Great Depression, Brown gradually progressed in the early 1930s, making his first-class debut for New South Wales in 1932-33.

His representative cricket career began in less than emphatic style, run out for a duck without facing a ball for NSW. The runs soon followed, howe'ver, and by 1934, the then 21-year-old had been presented his first Test cap, coming in at No.3 ahead of Don Bradman at Trent Bridge.

Brown made 73 in the second innings of that match and followed with 105 in his next Test innings at Lords. The latter knock commenced a long love affair with the home of cricket, highlighted by his unbeaten 206 on the 1938 tour. He was named Wisden cricketer of the year in 1939.

Tributes flooded in upon news of his passing, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stating Brown left a lasting impression on all those who met him, and fellow former Australia captain Steve Waugh describing him as a mentor to fellow cricketers.

Cricket Australia also paid tribute to Brown.

"Bill was a fine cricketer, good enough to carry his bat while making a double century at Lords, and will always be honoured as a member of the extraordinary Invincibles,"chairman Creagh OConnor said.

"But those of us who had the good fortune to meet and know him in more recent years will also remember him with great affection as an impish wit and good-humoured servant of the game, always ready to lend his assistance."

Brown played in just 22 Tests owing to World War II, during which he served in the Pacific as a Royal Australian Air Force flight lieutenant.

Brown compiled a Test record of 1,592 runs at an average of 46.82 and scored four centuries, including two at Lords, where he made 206 in 1938.

He retired in April 1950 with 13,838 first-class runs to his name at the imposing average of 51.44 with 39 centuries.
He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000 for services to cricket.

Brown was the oldest surviving member of Don Bradmans Invincibles team. Only four of the Invincibles side are still alive - Neil Harvey, Arthur Morris, Sam Loxton and Ron Hamence.

He is survived by his wife Barbara, three sons, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Bill Brown

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