CRICKET
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AUSTRALIAN cricket legend Brian Booth is confident the current national side will regain its position at the top of the world one day international rankings.
Booth was in Orange on Saturday night as the special guest for the Cavaliers Cricket Club presentation.
He was a dual international representing Australia in hockey at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and playing 29 test matches with the Australian cricket team in the 1960s.
The 75-year-old is confident the current Australian team will rise to the top again.
“We must realise as a team develops, it builds up into a group of people who work well together. That takes time,” Booth said.
“Australian cricket is in transition. They’ve lost a lot of their established players and you don’t replace them overnight. Those great players didn’t come to the side like that. It took time for them to become great.
“We’re going through a period where we’re not as successful as we have been. I’m sure we’ll be a strong team again. We’ve just got to be a bit patient.”
Booth was born and raised in Perthville and represented Australia in cricket from 1961-66.
In this time the middle-order batsman played 29 test matches, was named the Australian player of the year after the 1963-64 season and captained the national team in two tests.
Now the former teacher is retired and spends time with his wife of 50 years, Judy, and their six grandchildren.
He also keeps himself busy with the St George Cricket Club in Sydney.
“I’m a coach with St George and I’m on the selection panel. I’m also one of the club’s patrons,” Booth explained.
“I joined the club when I moved to Sydney to go to teacher’s college in 1952. So, I’ve been there a while.”
Booth said he takes on a mentoring role with the club and often coaches the younger players.
He still goes to training twice a week and watches games on Saturdays.
He has maintained his links with hockey as the patron of the St George Randwick Men’s Club and the St George Women’s Club in Sydney.
Booth said he doesn’t favour one sport over another.
“I just try to foster all sports,” he smiled.
“I never subscribed to the theory that one sport is more important that another. I think you should find one that gives you satisfaction.”