Bill Brown (cricketer)
William Alfred Bill Brown, OAM was an Australian cricketer who playedTests between 1934 and 1948, captaining his country in one Test. A righthanded opening batsman, his partnership with Jack Fingleton in the 1930s is regarded as one of the finest in Australian Test history. After the interruption of World War II, Brown was a member of Don Bradmans Invincibles, who toured England in 1948 without defeat. In a match in November 1947, Brown was the unwitting victim of the first instance of Mankading.
The son of a dairy farmer and hotel owner, Brown was born in Toowoomba, Queensland. Aged three, business failure hit the family, and they moved to Marrickville in inner Sydney. The familys poor financial position meant that they lived in a onebedroom home, with Brown and his brother sharing a bed. Educated at Dulwich Hill and Petersham High Schools in Sydney, Brown started playing cricket as a wicketkeeper, before changing his focus to opening the batting. He left high school after two years, but was unable to find regular fulltime work amid the Great Depression. In 192930, Brown played grade cricket for Marrickville Cricket Club, but was unable to hold down a regular place. He was on the verge of leaving Sydney when an innings of 172 for his Shire team reinvigorated his career. He progressed through the grades and reached the clubs First XI, where he performed steadily to earn selection for New South Wales in 193233.
Source: Wikipedia