Bransby Cooper
Encyclopedia
Bransby Beauchamp Cooper (15 March 1844 in Dacca
, British India – 7 August 1914 in Geelong, Victoria
) was a member of the Australian cricket team
that played in the inaugural Test match
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
in 1876–77. He was a right hand batsman and wicket-keeper
.
Cooper had a first-class cricket
career in England
which included playing for Rugby School
, Kent
and Middlesex
, including a number of large partnerships with the youthful W. G. Grace
. He moved firstly to the United States
, then to Australia
in 1869 and played for Victoria
in eleven intercolonial matches against New South Wales. His most notable innings was 84 in a total of 266 for Eighteen of Victoria against Grace's English team in 1873, the colonials winning by an innings and 21 runs.
In the inaugural Test match, many expected that Cooper would be named as captain, as Victorians outnumbered New South Welshmen. However Dave Gregory
was elected by the players for this honour. In this, his only Test match, Cooper scored 15 and 3, and took 2 catches. He was not selected for the 1878 tour of England, where his experience of English conditions might have been useful.
In all first-class matches, Cooper scored 1600 runs at 20.51, took 41 catches, and made 20 stumpings.
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, British India – 7 August 1914 in Geelong, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
) was a member of the Australian cricket team
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
that played in the inaugural Test match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
in 1876–77. He was a right hand batsman and wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
.
Cooper had a 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...
career in 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...
which included playing for Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
, Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
and Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex 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 Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
, including a number of large partnerships with the youthful W. G. Grace
W. G. Grace
William Gilbert Grace, MRCS, LRCP was an English amateur cricketer who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time, having a special significance in terms of his importance to the development of the sport...
. He moved firstly to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, then to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1869 and played for Victoria
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
in eleven intercolonial matches against New South Wales. His most notable innings was 84 in a total of 266 for Eighteen of Victoria against Grace's English team in 1873, the colonials winning by an innings and 21 runs.
In the inaugural Test match, many expected that Cooper would be named as captain, as Victorians outnumbered New South Welshmen. However Dave Gregory
Dave Gregory (cricketer)
David William Gregory was an Australian cricketer of the 19th century. A right-handed batsman, Gregory was the first Australian national cricket captain, leading the side for the first three recognised Test matches between England and Australia in March and April 1877 and January 1879...
was elected by the players for this honour. In this, his only Test match, Cooper scored 15 and 3, and took 2 catches. He was not selected for the 1878 tour of England, where his experience of English conditions might have been useful.
In all first-class matches, Cooper scored 1600 runs at 20.51, took 41 catches, and made 20 stumpings.