Paul Brooks (cricketer)

Paul Brooks
Personal information
Full name
Paul Wilson Brooks
Born(1921-05-28)28 May 1921
Marylebone, London, England
Died26 January 1946(1946-01-26) (aged 24)
Paddington, London, England
NicknameMr[1]
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingLeft-arm fast-medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1939Middlesex
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 44
Batting average –
100s/50s –/–
Top score 44*
Balls bowled –
Wickets –
Bowling average –
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling –
Catches/stumpings –/–
Source: Cricinfo, 14 April 2012

Paul Wilson Brooks (28 May 1921 – 26 January 1946) was an English cricketer. Brooks was a left-handed batsman who bowled left-arm fast-medium. The son of William James Brooks and Mabel Brooks,[2] he was born at Marylebone, London.

Prior to appearing in first-class cricket, Wilson had played Second XI cricket for Middlesex,[3] and on one notable occasion he bowled the Australian Don Bradman in a practice session at Lord's before the 1938 season began, making him a celebrity for a short time.[4][5][6] The following year he made what was to be his only first-class appearance for Middlesex against Warwickshire in the County Championship at Lord's.[7] This was the final first-class match played by Middlesex that season, and Brooks was drafted into the team after a number of regular players had been drafted into the armed services due to rising tensions with Germany.[8] In a match which Middlesex won by an innings and 200 runs, Brooks batted once, scoring an unbeaten 44.[9]

Military career and death

During the early part of World War II he served in London and Coventry with the National Fire Service during the height of The Blitz.[6][8] He later served in the Coldstream Guards, reaching the rank of lance corporal.[2] While fighting in Italy in April 1945, Brooks was wounded in the spine by a sniper.[8] He never recovered and was bedridden ever after, eventually dying of his injury at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, on the night of 26 January 1946.[6] He was laid to rest at Brompton Cemetery.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Time Never Stands Still". 25 May 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Brooks, Paul Wilson". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Teams Paul Brooks played for". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  4. ^ "BOWLED BRADMAN". Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 – 1940). NSW. 11 May 1938. p. 5 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 6 April 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Wisden – Obituaries in 1946". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  6. ^ a b c ""Boy Who Bowled Bradman" Dies of War Injuries". The Advocate. 29 January 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  7. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Paul Brooks". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  8. ^ a b c "Player profile: Paul Brooks". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  9. ^ "Middlesex v Warwickshire, 1939 County Championship". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 April 2012.