Bransby Cooper

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 the first Indian-born cricketer to play Test cricket. 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.

See also

• List of Australian Test cricketers
• List of Victoria first-class cricketers

References

• Pollard, Jack, Australian Cricket: 1803–1893, The Formative Years, Sydney, The Book Company, 1995. (ISBN 0-207-15490-2)
• Pollard, Jack, Australian Cricket: The Game and the Players, Sydney, Hodder & Stoughton, 1982. (ISBN 0-340-28796-9)

External links

• Cricinfo article on Bransby Cooper