Published Tuesday, 18 March, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
BILL BROWN - A TRULY GREAT QUEENSLANDER: PREMIER
“Bill Brown was a Queensland Great, the first Queensland born cricketer to captain Australia and a wonderful role model to generations of Aussies,” said the Premier.
The Toowoomba-born Brown made his debut for New South Wales against Queensland at the Gabba in November 1932, but thankfully later moved back to Queensland.
“Bill Brown exemplified what is great about Australia. He was from a working class family and his aunts and uncles had to take up a collection to buy him a new pair of cream trousers for his first-class debut.
“From that humble beginning he went to be a Wisden International Cricketer of the Year, a member of Bradman’s 1948 Invincibles and scored a match-saving 206 not out at Lords – the home of cricket. Cricket has lost one of its giants.”
Bill Brown was selected for the 1934 tour of England and in the 1936-37 season became captain-coach of the Queensland.
In 1938, he was selected for a second tour of England and in the Second Test at Lords scored that match-saving 206.
In 1939 at Brisbane’s St. John's Cathedral he married Barbara Hart and began another great partnership.
During World War II Brown enlisted in the RAAF and served with distinction as a Flight Lieutenant in New Guinea and was awarded the Pacific Star.
After the War he returned to cricket and was a member for Bradman’s 1948 Invincibles.
He continued playing for Queensland until the end of the 1949–50 season and in retirement briefly served as a Test selector.
In June 2000, Bill was awarded the Order of Australia for service to cricket as a player, selector, coach and administrator and for his involvement with the cricket charity Lord's Taverners, which raises money to help disadvantaged young people. In 2005 he was made a Queensland Great.
As a stylish top order batsman Brown had an impressive Test average of 46.82 and 56.34 for Queensland. He scored 39 First class hundreds, including four Test centuries.
Has the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1939 - akin to a cricketing knighthood.
Media contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
The Toowoomba-born Brown made his debut for New South Wales against Queensland at the Gabba in November 1932, but thankfully later moved back to Queensland.
“Bill Brown exemplified what is great about Australia. He was from a working class family and his aunts and uncles had to take up a collection to buy him a new pair of cream trousers for his first-class debut.
“From that humble beginning he went to be a Wisden International Cricketer of the Year, a member of Bradman’s 1948 Invincibles and scored a match-saving 206 not out at Lords – the home of cricket. Cricket has lost one of its giants.”
Bill Brown was selected for the 1934 tour of England and in the 1936-37 season became captain-coach of the Queensland.
In 1938, he was selected for a second tour of England and in the Second Test at Lords scored that match-saving 206.
In 1939 at Brisbane’s St. John's Cathedral he married Barbara Hart and began another great partnership.
During World War II Brown enlisted in the RAAF and served with distinction as a Flight Lieutenant in New Guinea and was awarded the Pacific Star.
After the War he returned to cricket and was a member for Bradman’s 1948 Invincibles.
He continued playing for Queensland until the end of the 1949–50 season and in retirement briefly served as a Test selector.
In June 2000, Bill was awarded the Order of Australia for service to cricket as a player, selector, coach and administrator and for his involvement with the cricket charity Lord's Taverners, which raises money to help disadvantaged young people. In 2005 he was made a Queensland Great.
As a stylish top order batsman Brown had an impressive Test average of 46.82 and 56.34 for Queensland. He scored 39 First class hundreds, including four Test centuries.
Has the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1939 - akin to a cricketing knighthood.
Media contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500