The feud between Brian Riley and Tom Brooks

The enigmatic Brian Riley was a colourful character of Sydney Grade Cricket in the late 60s, 70s and 80s.

Tom Brooks was a Cricket umpire who stood in 23 Test matches and had previously played 16 first-class games as a fast bowler for New South Wales..

Together they didn’t get along. Riles feud with Tom Brookes started around 1969 and continued throughout much of Riles's grade career and here's how it happened:

In a Poidevin Gray game played at Waverley Oval circa 1969, Petersham was batting and Riles was at the crease facing seamer and great medium pacer Dave Gibson. It was an overcast day, Tom Brookes, test umpire was officiating and Gibbo was steaming in from the scoreboard end of the ground.

Gibbo sends down a shortish ball to Riles, Riles tries to play a forcing shot off the back foot, Gibbo makes a half-hearted appeal, not supported by anyone else on the ground, and Tom Brookes raises the finger and gives Riles out.

Riles immediately says to Tom in his inimitable style – “Tom you are f#@**$! kidding!!”.

Instead of then walking off to the pavilion via point he proceeds slowly down the middle of the pitch towards Tom Brookes. Everyone on the field is waiting with bated breath; is he going to hit Tom, swing a bat at him or what. Riles's reputation has preceded him.

None of that – when Riles gets within reach of Tom, Riles takes of his rim glasses and places them on Tom Brookes head with the comment. “Take these Tom, you f#@**$! need them more than me”.

With that Riles storms of the pitch swearing and cursing all the way to the grandstand. Vintage Brian Riley but he was only 20 at the time and a lot more umpires were to incur the wrath of Brian Riley over the ensuing years.