Arthur Booth
Encyclopedia
Arthur Booth was an English
professional first-class cricket
er, who played first-class cricket
for Yorkshire County Cricket Club
. He was an orthodox slow left-arm bowler, and a lower-order right-handed batsman.
, Yorkshire
, England
, and began playing for Yorkshire's Second XI in 1923, and made his first team debut in 1931, but played only twice. From 1935 until World War II
he represented Northumberland
in the Minor Counties Championship and was selected for the Minor Counties representative side
in 1936 and 1938.
After Hedley Verity
was killed during the War, Yorkshire lacked a slow left-arm bowler when cricket resumed and Booth was recalled. He playing in two first-class matches in 1945 and then became a first-team regular in 1946, the first full post-war season, at the age of 43. Yorkshire won the County Championship
that year and, in all matches, Booth took 111 wickets at an average of 11.61. He received his county cap, and was top of the season's national bowling averages.
In 1947, Booth played only four times for Yorkshire and took just seven wickets. His place in the first team was contested by the younger Johnny Wardle
and Alan Mason. Booth retired soon afterwards.
In his whole career, almost 85 per cent of Booth's 131 career wickets came in the one season of 1946. He was later associated with Warwickshire
as a scout, and served on the Lancashire
committee until 1970.
Booth died in Rochdale
, Lancashire
, in August 1974.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
er, who played first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
for Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
. He was an orthodox slow left-arm bowler, and a lower-order right-handed batsman.
Cricket career
Booth was born in FeatherstoneFeatherstone
Featherstone is a town and civil parish in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. It lies south-west of Pontefract and has a population of 14,175.Featherstone railway station is on the Pontefract Line.-History:...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and began playing for Yorkshire's Second XI in 1923, and made his first team debut in 1931, but played only twice. From 1935 until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he represented Northumberland
Northumberland County Cricket Club
Northumberland County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northumberland and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
in the Minor Counties Championship and was selected for the Minor Counties representative side
Minor counties of English cricket
The Minor Counties are the cricketing counties of England and Wales that are not afforded first-class status. The game is administered by the Minor Counties Cricket Association which comes under the England and Wales Cricket Board...
in 1936 and 1938.
After Hedley Verity
Hedley Verity
Hedley Verity was a professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for Yorkshire and England between 1930 and 1939. A slow left arm orthodox bowler, he took 1,956 wickets in first-class cricket at an average of 14.90 and in 40 Tests he took 144 wickets at an average of 24.37...
was killed during the War, Yorkshire lacked a slow left-arm bowler when cricket resumed and Booth was recalled. He playing in two first-class matches in 1945 and then became a first-team regular in 1946, the first full post-war season, at the age of 43. Yorkshire won the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
that year and, in all matches, Booth took 111 wickets at an average of 11.61. He received his county cap, and was top of the season's national bowling averages.
In 1947, Booth played only four times for Yorkshire and took just seven wickets. His place in the first team was contested by the younger Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
and Alan Mason. Booth retired soon afterwards.
In his whole career, almost 85 per cent of Booth's 131 career wickets came in the one season of 1946. He was later associated with Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
as a scout, and served on the Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
committee until 1970.
Booth died in Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, in August 1974.