Former Manly cricketer turned umpire Tom Brooks (1919 – 2007) has been included in the inaugral NSW Cricket Umpires’ and Scorers’ Association (NSWCUSA) Hall of Fame.
Tom, or as I remember the great man as he admonished me for bowling with my shirt untucked, “Mr Brooks”, had an illustrious career as an umpire having taking it up late at 48. Tom was known throughout the cricketing world as a true gentleman.
Tom helped Manly win their first Sydney premiership with Keith Miller and Jimmy Burke in 1949-50. His club career was illustrious – 438 wickets at 20.79 and 2574 runs at 19.07, with one century in all grades. But Australia enjoyed the bowling riches of Ray Lindwall, Miller and Ernie Toshack and it was not until New Year’s Day in 1947, that Brooks won his first NSW cap. He played 16 first class games for NSW, capturing 65 wickets at an average of 22.5.
Tom was central to numerous big moments in test cricket including the Centenary Test in 1977, in 1971 advising English captain Ray Illingworth to either forfeit or get back out to play after leading his team off the SCG following an incident with John Snow down on the boundary and umpiring in the first unofficial one day game in 1970.
In total Tom umpired 23 test matches and was well respected for his principle and integity. To be included in the Hall of Fame is a great achievement and his family should be very proud as we are here at Manly.
Other inductees were :
George Borwick MBE
Tom Brooks OAM
Dick Burgess
Dick Callaway
Herb Elphinston
Dick French OAM
Darrell Hair
Alf Jones
Fred Lyons
Simon Taufel
Ted Wykes OAM adderall price
