Booth and Walters; Country boys who made it in the big time
St George Cricket Club | February 07, 2025
This week-end sees St George take on Parramatta in Round 14 of the Belvidere Cup. It will be a great match given the two battled it out last Sunday in the NSW Premier Cricket One Day Cup Semi Final with Parramatta prevailing by one wicket. This was largely thanks to a gutsy 17 run final wicket partnership that put an end to St George's hopes of holding all three 1st Grade Cups at the one time.
After the passing of St George legend Brian Booth in 2023 it was decided that these two great clubs would contest their yearly battle in the Belvidere Cup for a trophy named in honour of two of the clubs greats, Brian Booth (St George) and Doug Walters (Parramatta). In it's first season St George took the honours and this years battle could be considered a Finals rehearsal with Parramatta currently in top position and St George in second with just a few rounds to play. The match is a two dayer and will be played at Old Kings starting at 10am.
To celebrate this seasons Booth Walters Trophy matchup and the link between these two amazing Australian cricketers here is a fine article by Ronald Cardwell.
Similarities abound with Brian Booth and Doug Walters. Both were born in the country, Perthville, just outside of Bathurst for Booth and Marshdale, Dungog, north of Newcastle for Walters. They were born in 1933 and 1945, 12 years apart, however their cricket paths often crossed.
In the 1963-64 grade season it was the two-day game, Central Cumberland, as it then called, in the fixture against St George at the Sydney Cricket Ground that the two country boys first met in a grade match. It was for Booth his twelfth season for St George and the first for Walters. On the first day 29 February 1964 Walters was out for 40, in the Central Cumberland score of 8 for 130. St George were put into bat and passed their opponents reaching 1 for 136 to secure first innings points. Booth did not bat, the second Saturday being washed out.
The two country boys had however played together in a country match, Hunter Valley v New South Wales at Maitland in October 1963.
At seasons end Booth had scored 406 runs at 67.6 and Walters 409 at 51.1 in grade cricket. Walters had joined Booth in the New South Wales side during the season when in his fifth game for the state they played against South Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
In the 1965-66 season New South Wales played against the touring MCC side. In the first innings Booth who was captain and aged 32 and Walters 19, put on 142 in 121 minutes, Booth scoring 80 and Walters 129 in a rich display of batting.
When the first Test team was announced for the series against England Booth was appointed captain in place of Bob Simpson who had a broken wrist. Walters did not disappoint scoring 155 on debut. Booth scored 16, in a drawn match. The two country boys played two more Tests together in that summer.
There was of course that improbable title for St George in the final against Central Cumberland in March 1966 that featured the Test teammates. St George had scored on day one 254, Booth making 77. At afternoon tea on the second day Central Cumberland had the match won at 2 for 195. With not many options Warren Saunders threw the ball to Brian Booth, his occasional bowler. Booth bowling his quiet off breaks had Richie Benaud caught by Peter Leslie for 97 immediately after tea.
Walters was out for 99 with Booth taking a splendid catch from the bowling of Leslie. St George won by thirteen runs.
Booth and Walters played together for the last time in the 1967-68 season at the Sydney Cricket Ground against Western Australia Booth scoring 42 and 3 whilst Walters scored 5 and 42.
Interestingly Booth and Walters have had cricket stands or pavilions named after them. There was the Doug Walters Stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground, opened in 1985 and demolished in 2007 due to the redevelopment of the ground. These days there is the Doug Walters Pavilion at Old Kings Parramatta. Not to be outdone there is the Booth Saunders Pavilion at Hurstville Oval.
Both players have been awarded MBE’s, life membership of the New South Wales Cricket Association along with life membership of their respective clubs. Booth and Walters captained their clubs and State during their careers. They played together for New South Wales on twenty occasions, and both are members of the NSW Cricket Hall of Fame.
Booth played twenty-five seasons for the St George DCC whilst Doug Walters played seventeen. Interestingly both players only ever played first grade. There was always a level of respect by each player to the other. On perhaps the last occasion the two teammates caught up they were seen in animated conversation with Doug’s hand on Brians shoulder. Both were smiling, talking quietly and Doug being heard to say ‘Sam, cricket was different then but wasn’t it enjoyable’, and it was.
The Booth – Walters Trophy is a tremendous initiative of the two Sydney grade clubs that recognize the contributions made to the game by two wonderful players. Both were always out there playing to the best of their ability, whether it be for their club, NSW, or Australia.
May cricket long live in the way Brian Charles Booth and Kevin Douglas Walters played the game.
By Ronald Cardwell
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