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Major William Booth

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Name:
Major William Booth

Born:
December 10, 1886, Lowtown, Pudsey, Yorkshire. Died: July 1, 1916 (Aged 29)

Role:
Right-hand bat, Right-arm medium-fast

County Debut:
1908-14

County Cap:
Unknown. YCCC Cap No. 46.

STATISTICS

BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES

	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	6s	Ct	St
Tests	2	2	0	46	32	23.00	0	0	0	0	0
First-class	162	243	39	4753	210	23.29	2	21		120	0

BOWLING AVERAGES

	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10
Tests	2	3	312	130	7	4/49	5/92	18.57	2.50	44.5	1	0	0
First-class	162		25189	11953	603	8/47		19.82	2.84	41.7		43	9

PROFILE

Booth's earliest cricket was played at Fulneck School, and later he was associated with Pudsey St. Lawrence and the Wath Athletic Club, which played in the Mexborough League, where he was captain.

He appeared regularly for Yorkshire 2nd XI in 1907 and two following seasons, and in 1908 received his first trial for the County. He did not, however, secure a regular place in the team until two years later, but in 1911 he scored 1,125 runs for his county and took seventy-four wickets, with a highest innings of 210 against Worcestershire on the Worcester ground.

He increased his reputation as a bowler in the following summer, and in 1913 made over a thousand runs and took 158 wickets of Yorkshire, his aggregate of 181 wickets in first-class matches being the highest of any bowler that season. In 1914 he was not so successful in batting, but he obtained 141 wickets for Yorkshire at a cost of 18 runs apiece.

Although a fine punishing batsman, Booth's claim to fame will rest chiefly upon what he accomplished as a bowler. Possessed of a free, natural action, he made the ball come quickly off the pitch. On occasion his off-break was quite formidable, but his strong points were swerve and pace off the ground. In two consecutive matches in August, 1914, he and Drake bowled unchanged throughout, Gloucestershire being dismissed for 94 and 84 at Bristol and Somerset for 44 and 90 at Weston-super-Mare. In the second innings of the latter match Booth had the very rare experience of bowling throughout without obtaining a wicket, Drake taking all 10-35.

In 1913 Booth was chosen for the Players at Lord's, and during 1913-14 toured South Africa with the M.C.C.'s team under Douglas' captaincy. His doings abroad were somewhat disappointing, and so strong was the side that he was left out of three of the Test matches. In the 144 games in which he appeared for Yorkshire he scored 4,213 runs with an average of 22.65 and obtained 556 wickets for 18.89 runs each.

Second Lieut. Major William Booth of the West Yorkshire Regiment fell in action in July 1916, aged just 30, on the opening day of the Somme offensive in the same action as Roy Kilner was injured. He was killed near La Cigny and buried in Serre Military Cemetry Number 1. His sister, who was always unable to accept his death, kept a light burning in the window of their cottage in the hope that he would return.

Kilner named his youngest son Major.