Editing Brian Booth (section)

=== Temporary captain ===

<!--[[File:Bob Simpson sweep.JPG|thumb|right|Booth stood in as captain for Bob Simpson ''(pictured)'' when Simpson was ill and injured.]]-->

At the start of the 1965–66 season, Booth scored fifties in three consecutive matches, including an 80 against the [[MCC tour of Australia in 1965-66|MCC tourists]].<ref name=o/> The [[1965–66 Ashes series]] saw Booth captain Australia for the first time in a Test. Simpson sustained a broken wrist, leaving Booth to lead the hosts in the First Test in Brisbane. Booth prepared quietly, leaving Simpson to handle the press. He won the toss and elected to bat; fewer than two hours of play was possible on a rain-shortened first day, and the second day was entirely washed out. Booth made only 16 before being caught and bowled by [[Fred Titmus]] on the third morning, but after centuries to Lawry and debutant [[Doug Walters]], Booth declared at 6/443.<ref name=o/><ref name=p244/> Booth rotated his spinners and dismissed the tourists for 280; the match ended in a draw with England at 3/186 after being forced to [[follow on]].<ref name=o/><ref name=p244>Perry (2000), p. 244.</ref> When [[Geoff Boycott]] pushed a ball from [[leg spin]]ner [[Peter Philpott]] away with his hand, Booth refused to appeal for [[handled the ball|handling the ball]].<ref name="r278"/>

After the drawn Second Test, Simpson contracted [[chickenpox]], so Booth was again captain for the Third Test in front of his home crowd at the SCG.<ref name=p245/> It was an extra burden, as Booth had made only 49 runs in the first two Tests;<ref name=testlist/> his teammates felt that their captain had been too anxious following his struggles against Griffith in the Caribbean.<ref name=h236>Haigh, p. 236.</ref> However, there was to be no fairytale for Booth,<ref name=p245/> who later admitted to being in psychological disarray; he was unaware if the rolling done on the pitch after the toss was legal, and Philpott arrived late and ran onto the field just as play was starting.<ref name=h236/> England batted first and their openers, Boycott and [[Bob Barber (cricketer)|Bob Barber]], immediately seized the initiative, putting on 234 for the first wicket in four hours.<ref name=h235>Haigh, p. 235.</ref> The tourists made 488 and Booth scored eight as Australia replied with 221 and were forced to follow on.<ref name=o/><ref name=p245/> He made 27 in the second innings before being bowled by [[David Allen (cricketer)|David Allen]] as the hosts fell to an innings defeat.<ref name=o/><ref name="p245"/> It was Australia's biggest defeat at home since the Fourth Test of the [[English cricket team in Australia in 1911–12|1911–12 Ashes series]] when they lost by an innings and 225 runs. After the match, England captain [[M. J. K. Smith|Mike Smith]] told Booth that he looked forward to seeing him in the Fourth Test, but Booth prophetically predicted his downfall.<ref name=h236/>

With Australia 0–1 down, the selectors took drastic action and dropped Booth, Cowper, Philpott, McKenzie and [[David Sincock]].<ref name=p245/> The revamped team won the next Test by an innings,<ref name=auslist/> and Booth never played for Australia again.<ref name=testlist/> If he had played another Test, Booth would have been eligible for the [[New South Wales Cricket Association]]'s retirement bonus of AUD50 a Test.<ref name="r278"/> Booth's last five Test innings had netted only 84 runs.<ref name="testlist">{{cite web|url=http://statserver.cricket.org/guru?sdb=player;playerid=1153;class=testplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;season=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=1961-07-27;start=1961-07-27;enddefault=1966-01-11;end=1966-01-11;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;followon=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=aro_list;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414134806/http://statserver.cricket.org/guru?sdb=player;playerid=1153;class=testplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;season=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=1961-07-27;start=1961-07-27;enddefault=1966-01-11;end=1966-01-11;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;followon=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=aro_list;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 April 2013|title=Statsguru – BC Booth – Tests – Innings by innings list|work=[[ESPNcricinfo]]|access-date=2 April 2007}}</ref><ref name="p245">Perry (2000), p. 245.</ref> After the match, he received a letter from Sir [[Don Bradman]], then a member of the selection panel and the [[Cricket Australia|Australian Board of Control]]:

<blockquote>Never before have I written to a player to express my regret at his omission from the Australian XI. In your case I am making an exception because I want you to know how much my colleagues and I disliked having to make this move. Captain one match and out of the side the next looks like ingratitude, but you understand the circumstances and will be the first to admit that your form has not been good.<ref name="p246"/></blockquote>

Booth ended the first-class season with 596 runs at 29.80, including four half-centuries.<ref name=o/> He continued to play for New South Wales before retiring during the 1968–69 season.<ref name=az/>