Bill Brown (cricketer)

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Bill Brown
female =


country = Australia
fullname = William Alfred Brown
nickname =
living =
partialdates =
dayofbirth = 31
monthofbirth = 7
yearofbirth = 1912
placeofbirth = Toowoomba
countryofbirth = Australia
dayofdeath = 16
monthofdeath = 3
yearofdeath = 2008
placeofdeath = Brisbane
countryofdeath = Australia
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm = 1.76
batting = Right-hand batsman
bowling = Right-arm off spin
role = Batsman
international = true
testdebutdate = 8 June
testdebutyear = 1934
testdebutagainst = England
testc

lasttestdate = 24 June
lasttestyear = 1948
lasttestagainst = England
club1 = New South Wales
year1 = 1932/33–1935/36
club2 = Queensland
year2 = 1936/37–1949/50
deliveries = balls
columns = 2
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 22
runs1 = 1,592
bat avg1 = 46.82
100s/50s1 = 4/9
top score1 = 206*
deliveries1 = –
wickets1 = –
bowl avg1 = –
fivefor1 = –
tenfor1 = –
best bowling1 = –
catches/stumpings1 = 14/–
column2 = First-class
matches2 = 189
runs2 = 13,838
bat avg2 = 51.44
100s/50s2 = 39/66
top score2 = 265*
deliveries2 = 169
wickets2 = 6
bowl avg2 = 18.33
fivefor2 = –
tenfor2 = –
best bowling2 = 4/16
catches/stumpings2 = 110/1
date= 10 December
year = 2007
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/636/636.html CricketArchive

William "Bill" Alfred Brown OAM (31 July 1912 – 16 March 2008) was an Australian cricketer who played 22 Tests between 1934 and 1948, captaining his country in one Test. A right-handed opening batsman, his partnership with Jack Fingleton in the 1930s is regarded as one of the finest in Australian Test history. After the interruption of World War II, Brown was a member of Don Bradman's "Invincibles", who toured England in 1948 without defeat. In a match in November 1947, Brown was the unwitting victim of the first instance of "Mankading".

Raised in New South Wales, Brown initially struggled in both work and cricket, before gradually rising through the cricket ranks. He made his first-class debut for New South Wales in the 1932–33 season and forced his way into the national side during the 1934 tour of England. When long-term openers Bill Ponsford and Bill Woodfull retired at the end of the tour, Brown and his state opening partner Fingleton took over. After poor form made his selection for the 1938 tour of England controversial, Brown responded with a total of 1,854 runs, including an unbeaten 206 that saved Australia from defeat in the Second Test, and was honoured as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year.

The outbreak of the Second World War cost Brown his peak years, which he spent in the Royal Australian Air Force. Cricket resumed in 1945–46 and Brown—in Bradman's absence—captained an Australian in a match that was retrospectively awarded Test status. Brown missed the entirety of the following season because of injury; upon his return, he was unable to repeat his previous success and was ousted from the opening positions by Arthur Morris and Sid Barnes. Selected for the "Invincibles" tour, he performed reasonably well in the tour matches, but with Morris and Barnes entrenched as openers, he batted out of position in the middle order during the first two Tests. He struggled and was dropped from the Test team, never to return. Upon returning to Australia, Brown continued playing for Queensland until the end of the 1949–50 season.

In retirement, Brown briefly served as a Test selector and sold cars and, later, sports goods. In 2000, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to cricket, and at the time of his death was Australia's oldest living Test cricketer.

Early years

The son of a dairy farmer and hotel owner, Brown was born in Toowoomba, Queensland. Aged three, business failure hit the family, and they moved to Marrickville in inner Sydney.Cashman, p. 67.] The family's poor financial position meant that they lived in a one-bedroom home, with Brown and his brother sharing a bed.Cite news
title=Gone but not forgotten |first=Peter |last=English |url= http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/344135.html |date=2008-03-27 |accessdate=2008-06-10 |publisher=Cricinfo] Educated at Dulwich Hill and Petersham High Schools in Sydney, Brown started playing cricket as a wicket-keeper, before changing his focus to opening the batting.Cite news
title=Bill Brown |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1581980/Bill-Brown.html |date=2008-03-18 |accessdate=2008-06-10 |work = The Telegraph] He left high school after two years, but was unable to find regular full-time work amid the Great Depression. In 1929–30, Brown played grade cricket for Marrickville Cricket Club, but was unable to hold down a regular place. He was on the verge of leaving Sydney when an innings of 172 for his Shire team reinvigorated his career. He progressed through the grades and reached the club's First XI, where he performed steadily to earn selection for New South Wales in 1932–33.cite web|title= Wisden 1939 - Bill Brown |url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/154647.html| publisher=Wisden |year=1939|accessdate=2007-11-30]

Pre-war career

Making his first-class debut for New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield match against Queensland on 11 November 1932, Brown was run out for a duck without facing a ball, while opening with Jack Fingleton. The highlights of Brown's first season were his 79 against South Australia, and 69 against Douglas Jardine's England. However, neither Harold Larwood nor Bill Voce, the "Bodyline" spearheads, played in the match. During his first season, Brown earned the ire of Don Bradman, who was displeased with Brown's poor communication with batting partners when running between the wickets, with the ensuing risk of falling foul of run outs. Brown ended his debut season with 269 runs at 29.88.cite web|title=Australian First-Class Season 1932/33: Batting - Most Runs |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1930S/1932-33/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1932-33_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html |accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=Cricinfo]

The following season, in a match against Queensland at Brisbane in November 1933, Brown made 154, partnering Bradman in a stand of 294 in just three hours. He followed this with 205 in an opening stand with Fingleton against Victoria. Brown amassed 878 runs for the season at an average of 67.53, which placed him second behind Bradman in the first-class run-scoring aggregates. cite web|title=Australian First-Class Season 1933/34: Batting - Most Runs |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1930S/1933-34/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1933-34_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html |accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=Cricinfo] When the selectors met to discuss the tour party for the 1934 tour of England, Brown and Fingleton had similar figures, but with the incumbent Victorian pair Bill Ponsford and captain Bill Woodfull firmly in place, there was only one spot available in the party for a reserve opener. The selectors asked Bradman—Australia's leading batsman—for advice. Bradman nominated Brown, believing that his style was better suited to English pitches.Perry (2002), p. 175.] A disappointed Fingleton disagreed and wrote to Woodfull, saying "You have chosen chaps who do not like fast bowling". Brown justified his selection before departure with a pair of 90s in two matches for a combined Australian XI against Tasmania.cite web|title=Tasmania v Australian XI, 1933/34, Tasmania C.A. Ground, Hobart, 15,16,17 March 1934 (3-day match) |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1930S/1933-34/AUS_LOCAL/OTHERFC/TAS_AUS-XI_15-17MAR1934.html| accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=Cricinfo] cite web|title=Tasmania v Australian XI, 1933/34, North Tasmania C.A. Ground, Launceston, 10,12,13 March 1934 (3-day match) |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1930S/1933-34/AUS_LOCAL/OTHERFC/TAS_AUS-XI_10-13MAR1934.html |accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=Cricinfo]

Brown missed selection for the tour opener against Worcestershire—in which Australia traditionally fielded its first-choice XI—before making a century against Cambridge University in his second tour match, batting in the middle order.cite web|title=Cambridge University v Australians, F.P. Fenner's Ground, Cambridge, 9,10,11 May 1934 (3-day match) |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1930S/1934/AUS_IN_ENG/AUS_CAMB-UNIV_09-11MAY1934.html |accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=Cricinfo] Batting at number 3 against Lancashire in the final tour match before the Tests, Brown scored 119 and was selected for the Test side. Playing in all five Tests, Brown made his debut at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. After Australia lost three early wickets in the second innings, Brown scored 73 to help secure a winning lead. Brown then made a century while opening the batting against Northamptonshire,cite web|title=Northamptonshire v Australians, County Ground, Northampton, 13,14,15 June 1934 (3-day match)|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1930S/1934/AUS_IN_ENG/AUS_NORTHANTS_13-15JUN1934.html|accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=Cricinfo] and was promoted to open in the Second Test at Lord's with Woodfull, after Ponsford was unavailable due to illness.cite web|title=Second Test match England v Australia 1934
url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/151792.htm|accessdate=2008-09-10|publisher=Wisden |year=1935] At the home of cricket, Brown made his maiden Test century, scoring 105 in the first innings. However, he was unable to prevent Australia from being forced to follow-on and the match ended in an innings defeat. He was retained as opener upon Ponsford's return for the Third Test, with Woodfull dropping down the order in a reshuffled batting line-up. Brown made 72 and a duck. He was unable to pass 20 in the final two Tests and ended the series with 300 runs at 33.33. Despite his inability to make a substantial contribution, Australia won the Fifth Test to reclaim the Ashes 2–1. Brown's strong form continued upon returning to Australia, compiling 683 runs at 45.53, including three centuries, to be the second highest run-scorer for the 1934–35 domestic season.cite web|title=Australian First-Class Season 1934/35: Batting - Most Runs |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1930S/1934-35/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1934-35_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html |accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=Cricinfo]

With the retirement of Woodfull and Ponsford after the tour of England, Brown and his state partner Fingleton became Australia's opening pair for the 1935–36 tour of South Africa. Brown started the tour consistently, with three consecutive half-centuries in the first two Tests in Durban and Johannesburg. In the Third Test at Cape Town, the pair set a new Australian opening record of 233, which laid the foundation for a large Australian total and an innings victory. It was Australia's first double-century opening stand in Test cricket, and remains an Australian Test record for the first wicket against South Africa. Brown posted 121, his highest score at Test level at the time. He scored 34 and 84 in Australia's only innings of the Fourth and Fifth Tests in Johannesburg and Durban, making solid opening stands with Fingleton, who scored three consecutive centuries. The pair laid the platform for two further innings victories, as Australia took the five-Test series 4–0. His compiled 417 runs at 59.57 for the series.

In 1936, Brown accepted a coaching position in Queensland, representing his state of birth from 1936–37 onwards, and being appointed captain the following season. His 1936–37 season was interrupted by injury and he appeared in only two Tests against England. They were relatively unsuccessful, yielding only 95 runs at 23.75 in four innings without passing fifty. His debut season for Queensland was moderately successful, with 557 runs at an average of 37.13, including one century.cite web|title=Australian First-Class Season 1936/37: Batting - Most Runs |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1930S/1936-37/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1936-37_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html |accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=Cricinfo]

Wisden Cricketer of the Year

Brown's form started to deteriorate in 1937–38; he scored only 400 runs at 36.36 for the season. Although Brown compiled two centuries, he was only twelfth in the aggregates during an Australian season with no international tours. As a result, his selection for the 1938 tour to England was criticised in some quarters.cite web|title=Australian First-Class Season 1937/38: Batting - Most Runs |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1930S/1937-38/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1937-38_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html |accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=Cricinfo] Brown started the tour with an unbeaten 196 against Northamptonshire. He scored 133 in the second innings of the First Test at Nottingham after Australia were forced to follow-on, helping Bradman (144 not out) to save the Test.

Brown's most celebrated innings came in the Second Test at Lord's, carrying his bat to score 206 in the first televised Test match. England batted first and amassed 494, largely on the back of Wally Hammond's 240. Brown featured in an opening stand of 69 before Fingleton was dismissed.Perry (2002), p. 173.] Hedley Verity then bowled Bradman for 18, leaving the score at 101, before Stan McCabe fell after a quickfire 38 with the score at 3/152. Brown registered his century in 193 minutes, during an innings highlighted by his driving on both sides of the wicket. After Lindsay Hassett was dismissed for 56 following a 134-run partnership, Australia reached stumps at 5/299, with Brown on 140. The following day, Brown set about ensuring that Australia would avoid the follow on, featuring in an aggressive eighth-wicket stand with tailender Bill O'Reilly. The pair added 85 runs in just 46 minutes, with Brown recalling "It was a nice day, and a nice wicket. O'Reilly came in, and I told him I'd take the quicks—Wellard and Farnes—and Tiger [O'Reilly] took Verity." Brown continued past his double century and remained unbeaten on 206 from just 375 minutes when his last partner fell, leaving Australia all out for 422. Brown's innings was the 100th century by an Australian against England. They went on to draw the match,Perry (2002), p. 174.] which was crucial in Australia's eventual retention of the Ashes. Brown's uninterrupted batting meant that he was on the field from the first morning until late on the fourth day.

Brown missed the Third Test due to injury, and the Fourth Test was washed out without any play being possible. He was the top Australian scorer in both innings of the Fifth Test at The Oval, scoring 69 and 15. This was the match in which Len Hutton scored a world record 364 and England compiled 903, before winning by an innings and 579 runs. In the Tests, Brown aggregated 512 runs at 73.14. He also recorded his highest first-class score of 265 not out against Derbyshire, totalling 1854 runs at 59.57 for the tour. This placed Brown second to Bradman in both aggregates and average. He was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year for his performances in 1938. Wisden described him as a "cricketer of remarkable powers" who batted with "a charming skill, coolness, thoughtfulness and certainty".

Upon returning to Australia, Brown scored 1057 runs in the 1938–39 Australian season, including 990 in six Sheffield Shield matches. He combined with Geoff Cook in a Queensland first-wicket partnership of 265 in a run chase that secured an eight-wicket victory over New South Wales, eventually finishing with 215. He also carried his bat to make an unbeaten 174 against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval. Brown topped the aggregates and was the only player to surpass 1000 runs for the season.cite web|title=Australian First-Class Season 1936/37: Batting - Most Runs |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1930S/1938-39/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1938-39_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html |accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=Cricinfo] Brown had another strong campaign in the following year, netting 857 runs at 61.21, including three centuries.cite web|title=Australian First-Class Season 1936/37: Batting - Most Runs |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1930S/1939-40/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1939-40_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html |accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=Cricinfo]

Second World War and post-war career

Brown was a flight lieutenant with the Royal Australian Air Force, serving in New Guinea and the Philippines during the Second World War,cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/70460.html| title='What did you do at Lord's, Grandpa?'| first=David |last=Frith|authorlink=David Frith|accessdate=2007-12-06|work=Wisden Cricket Monthly |year=1987|publisher=Cricinfo] losing his prime years from the age of 27 to 33. During the pre-war years, he had averaged 49.02 in Test cricket. First-class cricket resumed in 1945–46, and Brown began the post-war phase of his career with a steady season, scoring 604 runs at 46.46 with five half-centuries. This placed him second to Sid Barnes in the run-scoring aggregates.cite web|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1945-46/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1945-46_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html| title=Australian First-Class Season 1945/46: Batting - Most Runs| accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Cricinfo]

At the end of the season, Brown captained an Australian side on a tour of New Zealand. Australia played its inaugural Test against New Zealand in Wellington, a match that was retrospectively given Test status. The uncertain status of the tour saw the players wearing blazers that were labelled ABC (Australian Board of Control), rather than the Australian coat of arms. Brown led from the front, topping the tour aggregates and averages, with 443 runs at 73.83 in five matches.cite web|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1945-46/AUS_IN_NZ/AUS_IN_NZ_MAR1946_TOUR-STATS.html|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-12-04|title=Australia in New Zealand, Mar 1946: Tour Statistics] In the opening tour match against Auckland, Brown elected to bat and opened with 68 as Australia amassed 579 and took victory by an innings and 180 runs.cite web|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1945-46/AUS_IN_NZ/AUS_AUCK_01-05MAR1946.html|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-12-04|title=Auckland v Australians, Eden Park, Auckland 1,2,4,5 March 1946] This was followed by a match against Canterbury in Christchurch, in which Brown top-scored with 137. This laid the foundation for a total of 8/415 and another innings victory.cite web|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1945-46/AUS_IN_NZ/AUS_CANT_08-11MAR1946.html|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-12-04|title=Canterbury v Australians, Lancaster Park, Christchurch 8,9,11 March 1946] Brown made his second consecutive century in the third match against Otago at Carisbrook in Dunedin, again top-scoring with 106 in an eight-wicket victory.cite web|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1945-46/AUS_IN_NZ/AUS_OTAGO_15-19MAR1946.html|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-12-04|title=Otago v Australians, Carisbrook, Dunedin 15,16,18,19 March 1946] Brown made 34 in the final tour match as Australia defeated Wellington in another innings victory.cite web|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1945-46/AUS_IN_NZ/AUS_WELL_22-25MAR1946.html|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-12-04|title=Wellington v Australians, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 22,23,25 March 1946]

The tour culminated in a match against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. With regular captain Don Bradman missing, Brown led a team that included seven Test debutants.cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62661.html|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-11-28|title=Only Test: New Zealand vs Australia at Wellington, 29-30 March 1946] The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first on a wet wicket, which came about after a week of rain before the match. New Zealand managed to reach 4/37 at lunch, before the sun emerged and caused the wicket to turn into a sticky with unpredictable bounce. Leg spinner Bill O'Reilly—in his last Test—and debutant Ernie Toshack, took 5/14 and 4/12 respectively as New Zealand were bowled out for only 42, losing their last six wickets for five runs. In reply, Australia were 1/9 when Ken Meuleman was dismissed. Having been dropped on 13, Brown then combined in a 109-run first-wicket stand with Barnes, before falling for the innings top-score of 67. Barnes' dismissal triggered a collapse of 6/57, prompting Brown to declare Australia's innings closed at 8/199. Australia then dismissed New Zealand for 54 in the second innings in just two hours, resulting in victory by an innings and 54 runs in just two days.cite web|first=Martin |last=Williamson|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/298169.html|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-06-17|accessdate=2007-12-04|title=Beating up your neighbour] Brown's solitary Test as captain makes him the first Queenslander, and the only native Queenslander to have led Australia.

Brown missed the entire 1946–47 Test series against England due to a thumb injury. This allowed young New South Wales opener Arthur Morris to make his Test debut. Morris' performance in the series eventually displaced Brown from his position as a first-choice opening batsman alongside Barnes. The injury meant that Brown was unable to play a single match for Queensland.cite web|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1946-47/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1946-47_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html| title=Australian First-Class Season 1946/47: Batting - Most Runs| accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Cricinfo]

Mankad

Brown returned to the Test team in 1947–48 for the Indian tour of Australia. The selectors initially dropped Barnes to pair Brown with Morris to open the batting. Apart from two Tests during the 1936–37 season against England, Brown had not played Test cricket on Australian soil. He had only one opportunity with the bat in the First Test in Brisbane, making 11 as India fell to an innings defeat. It was to be his only innings and Test match on his home ground. Brown's participation in the series was overshadowed by his controversial run out by Indian spinner Vinoo Mankad in the Second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in December 1947. Brown was run out for 18, when in the act of delivering the ball, Mankad held on to it and whipped the bails off at the non-striker's end. Brown was well out of his crease while he was backing-up the striker, so that he could get a head start in case he attempted a run. This was the second time during the season that Mankad had dismissed Brown in this fashion—he had done it in an earlier match against an Australian XI in November. On that occasion, Mankad had warned Brown before running him out. The Australian press strongly accused Mankad of being unsportsmanlike, although some Australians—including Bradman—defended Mankad's actions. After this incident, if a batsman is given out this way, he is said to have been "Mankaded".cite web|title=Ten controversial dismissals |url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/allrounder/content/story/226675.html |date=2005-12-06 |accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Cricinfo |first=Will |last=Luke]

The dismissal ended another low-scoring innings, and Brown was omitted from the team in favour of Barnes for the next two Tests.Perry (2000), p. 176.] Morris—who had established himself as one of Australia's first-choice opening batsmen during Brown's injury layoff during the previous season—was rested for the Fifth Test as the Australian Board trialled potential candidates for the 1948 tour of England.cite web| title= Wisden 1949 - Arthur Morris |url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/234445.html| year= 1949 |accessdate=2007-05-21| publisher= Wisden] Brown was recalled to partner Barnes, making 99 in the first innings before being run out. India fell to another innings defeat, so Brown did not have another opportunity to score a Test century on home soil. His Test aggregate in Australia stood at 223 runs at only 33.86, in contrast to his away average of 1369 runs at 50.70. His first-class batting average of 43.58 for the season was inferior to that of fellow opening batsmen Barnes and Morris, both of whom averaged more than 50.cite web|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1947-48/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1947-48_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html| title=Australian First-Class Season 1947/48: Batting - Most Runs| accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Cricinfo]

Invincibles tour

In any case, Brown had done enough to be chosen to tour England with the "Invincibles" in 1948, although Barnes and Morris were the first-choice opening combination. Brown made a strong start in the tour matches preceding the Tests. In the fifth fixture, which was against Cambridge University,cite web|title=Matches, Australia tour of England, Apr-Sep 1948 |url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/invincibles/engine/series/61329.html |publisher=Cricinfo |accessdate=2008-07-16] Brown top-scored with 200 in an innings victory. [cite web
url = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18423.html
title = Cambridge University v Australians
publisher = CricketArchive
accessdate = 2007-12-26] In the following match against Essex, Brown combined with Bradman in a second-wicket partnership of 219 in 90 minutes, ending with 153 as Australia scored a world-record 721 runs in one day. [cite web
url = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18429.html
title = Essex v Australians
publisher = CricketArchive
accessdate = 2007-12-26] [Perry (2005), p. 226.] Australia proceeded to another innings victory, and Brown completed his third century in as many innings with 108 against Oxford University. [cite web
url = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18444.html
title = Oxford University v Australians
publisher = CricketArchive
accessdate = 2007-12-26] He added a fourth century in less than three weeks, with 122 against Nottinghamshire. [cite web
url = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18467.html
title = Nottinghamshire v Australians
publisher = CricketArchive
accessdate = 2007-12-26] In contrast, middle-order batsman Neil Harvey had struggled in the initial stages of his first tour of England, not passing 25 in his first six innings. [Perry (2002), p. 101.] Thus, Brown gained selection in the First Test at Trent Bridge, batting out of position in the middle order, whereas Harvey was dropped despite making a century in Australia's most recent Test against India.cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/guru?sdb=team;team=AUS;class=testteam;filter=basic;opposition=0;notopposition=0;decade=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;season=0;startdefault=1877-03-15;start=1877-03-15;enddefault=2007-11-20;end=2007-11-20;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;followon=0;result=0;seriesresult=0;captainid=0;recent=;viewtype=resultlist;runslow=;runshigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;ballslow=;ballshigh=;overslow=;overshigh=;bpo=0;batevent=;conclow=;conchigh=;takenlow=;takenhigh=;ballsbowledlow=;ballsbowledhigh=;oversbowledlow=;oversbowledhigh=;bpobowled=0;bowlevent=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype |title=Statsguru - Australia - Tests - Results list |publisher=Cricinfo |accessdate=2007-12-21] cite web| title = 1st Test England v Australia at Nottingham Jun 10-15 1948|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62685.html|publisher= Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-12-12] [Perry (2002), p. 100.]

Brown made 17 in his only innings as Australia won by eight wickets. Between Tests, Brown scored 113 against Yorkshire to retain his middle-order position for the Second Test at Lord's. [cite web
url = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18526.html
title = Yorkshire v Australians
publisher = CricketArchive
accessdate = 2007-12-26] He was unable to replicate the Test centuries he made in the preceding tours, scoring 24 and 32. It was to be his last Test, as Sam Loxton top-scored with 159 not out against Gloucestershire in the match before the Third Test, ousting Brown from his middle-order position. [cite web
url = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18558.html
title = Gloucestershire v Australians
publisher = CricketArchive
accessdate = 2007-12-26] Barnes was injured in the Third Test,Cite web|title= Third Test Match ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA |work= Wisden Cricketers' Almanack |year=1949 |url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152896.html |accessdate=2008-07-02 |publisher=Wisden] but Brown was not recalled for the Fourth Test; instead, Lindsay Hassett was promoted to open with Morris, while the teenaged Harvey came into the middle-order and struck 112.cite web|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1948/AUS_IN_ENG/AUS_ENG_T4_22-27JUL1948.html| title=4th Test: England v Australia at Leeds, 22-27 Jul 1948| accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Cricinfo] Brown then scored 140 against Derbyshire immediately after the Fourth Test, [cite web
url = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18616.html
title = Derbyshire v Australians
publisher = CricketArchive
accessdate = 2007-12-26] and then scored consecutive centuries against Kent and the Gentlemen of England after the Tests. [cite web
url = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18674.html
title = Kent v Australians
publisher = CricketArchive
accessdate = 2007-12-26] [cite web
url = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18684.html
title = Gentlemen v Australians
publisher = CricketArchive
accessdate = 2007-12-26] He ended with eight centuries and a total of 1448 runs on the tour at an average of 57.92, behind only Bradman, Hassett and Morris, with the 200 against Cambridge University his highest score. Brown took 4/16 against the South of England in his only bowling assignment of the tour. [Cite book
title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
edition = 1949
publisher = Wisden
chapter = Australians in England, 1948
pages = pp. 257–258] It was his best career bowling figures, having amassed only six wickets in his first-class career. In three visits to England, Brown scored 18 centuries.

Upon returning to Australia, Bradman retired and Barnes took a break from cricket, thereby opening two vacancies in the Test team. [Cashman, pp. 15, 35.] Brown had a reasonable domestic season in 1948–1949 to press his claim for a Test recall. He scored 626 runs at 41.73, the sixth highest aggregate of the season.cite web|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1948-49/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1948-49_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html| title=Australian First-Class Season 1947/48: Batting - Most Runs| accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Cricinfo] Despite this, the 37-year-old Brown was not named in the touring party for the Test tour of South Africa in 1949–50. In the absence of the Test players, Brown scored 507 runs at 50.70 in the Sheffield Shield season, with a top score of 190, making him the third highest run-getter.cite web|url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1949-50/AUS_LOCAL/STATS/FC_1949-50_BAT_MOST_RUNS.html| title=Australian First-Class Season 1947/48: Batting - Most Runs| accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Cricinfo] With his opportunities diminishing, he retired after captaining the Australian second team to New Zealand on an end-of-season tour. He had been less effective in his later years, averaging 38.29 in Tests following the Second World War.cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/guru?sdb=player;playerid=636;class=testplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;season=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=1934-06-08;start=1934-06-08;enddefault=1948-06-29;end=1948-06-29;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;followon=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=aro_list;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype| accessdate=2007-11-30| title=Statsguru - WA Brown - Tests - Innings by innings list |publisher=Cricinfo]

Style

said that Brown was "the most serene batsman I ever saw play for Australia". Brown's placid nature extended to his observations of modern cricket—he disliked the emotional displays made by contemporary players.

Brown's partnership with Fingleton was regarded as one of the great opening pairings in Australian Test cricket history. In ten Tests as an opening combination, the pair averaged 63.75 for the first wicket, higher than any other Australian duo with more than 1000 runs.cite web| title=Invincible memories | first=Peter |last=English |url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/338064.html | date=2008-02-23 |accessdate=2008-06-24 |publisher=Cricinfo] Brown was known for his self-effacing nature and was well-liked among teammates and opponents alike. Of his batting, Brown joked that "My wife said you could always tell when I was batting by the number of people leaving the ground". During a domestic match at the Adelaide Oval in December 1938, he deflected a ball onto his stumps without dislodging a bail. He added a further 147 runs to end unbeaten on 174, eternally apologising for his luck.

In addition to his batting, Brown was a highly regarded fieldsman known for his fitness.cite web| title=Bill Brown: One of Bradman's 'Invincibles' | |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/bill-brown-one-of-bradmans-invincibles-797159.html | first=Derek |last=Hodgson |date=2008-03-18 |accessdate=2008-06-24 |work = The Independent] He developed his skills through persistent training with professional sprinters in order to improve his anticipation and speed off the mark. Brown often fielded at slip or in the covers. With Australia boasting the leg spin pairing of O'Reilly and Grimmett in the 1930s, close-catchers were frequently used. Along with Fingleton, Brown often fielded in the leg trap position.

Off the field

In 1940, Brown married Barbara Hart, a receptionist. The couple had three sons, whom Brown self-deprecatingly noted were "well spaced ... like my centuries". Outside cricket, Brown worked in a variety of jobs. When Bradman relocated from New South Wales to South Australia in 1935, Brown took his job at the men's clothing store FJ Palmer. Following his relocation to Queensland, Brown was a Brisbane car salesman, selling Chevrolets for Egars, later running a sports store.

Brown was a Queensland selector from 1950–51 to 1959–60 and an Australian selector in 1952–53. His brief tenure as a national selector was marked by abuse and harassment from parochial Queenslanders, upset that he did not include his fellow statesmen in the Test team.Perry (2000), p. 177.] In 1992, Brown was elected a life member of the Queensland Cricket Association, and in 2000 was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to cricket.cite web| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/4225.html |title=Players and officials - Bill Brown |accessdate=2007-12-06|publisher=Cricinfo|first=David |last=Liverman]

Upon Bradman's death in February 2001, Brown became the oldest living Australian Test cricketer, greatly amused by the fame that came with the title. Highly regarded by Australian cricketers of the modern era, Steve Waugh invited Brown to present Test debutant Adam Gilchrist with his baggy green. The humble Brown was surprised, thinking himself an unworthy choice. Waugh disagreed, opining that "Bill is a baggy green icon who represents all that is good about playing for your country. He is humble, self-effacing and respectful, proud to have been afforded the honour of being an Australian Test cricketer, and a man who always looks for the positive in people."cite news| authorlink=Gideon Haigh |last=Haigh |first=Gideon |date=2008-03-18 |accessdate=2008-06-10 | title=Obituary: Bill Brown: Australian batsman with a light touch | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/mar/18/cricket.obituaries |work = The Guardian] In March 2008, Brown died in Brisbane at the age of 95.cite web | url = http://content-www.cricinfo.com/baggygreen/content/story/342858.html | title = Bill Brown dies aged 95 |publisher = Cricinfo | accessdate = 2008-03-17 |date=2008-03-17] He was the last surviving "Invincible" to have played Test cricket before World War II and his death leaves only four living members of Bradman's 1948 team.

Test match performance

"Key: *–not out"

Notes

References

*cite book | last = Cashman, Franks, Maxwell, Sainsbury, Stoddart, Weaver, Webster | year = 1997 | title = The A-Z of Australian cricketers|isbn=0-19-550604-9|publisher= Oxford University Press|location=Melbourne
*cite book |last=Perry |first= Roland |authorlink=Roland Perry |year=2000 |title=Captain Australia: A history of the celebrated captains of Australian Test cricket |location=Sydney| publisher=Random House Australia |isbn=1-74051-174-3
*cite book|first=Roland |last=Perry |authorlink=Roland Perry| title=Bradman's best Ashes teams : Sir Donald Bradman's selection of the best ashes teams in cricket history| year=2002 |publisher=Random House Australia | isbn=1-74051-125-5
*cite book|last=Perry|first=Roland|authorlink=Roland Perry |title=Miller's Luck: the life and loves of Keith Miller, Australia's greatest all-rounder|year=2005|publisher=Random House|location=Sydney|isbn=9781741662221

External links

* [http://content.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/4225.html Cricinfo article]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/636/636.html CricketArchive stats]

Persondata
NAME=Brown, William Alfred
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Bill
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Cricketer
DATE OF BIRTH=31 July 1912
PLACE OF BIRTH=Toowoomba, Queensland
DATE OF DEATH= 16 March 2008
PLACE OF DEATH= Brisbane