was cleared. World XI In 1971/72 season, a scheduled tour of Australia by South Africa was cancelled following political and moral protests against the apartheid policies of the South African government. In its place a 'World Team' visited Australia and played a series of matches against Australia, which although first class, were never officially recognised as Test matches. Brooks stood in three of those matches. Centenary Test Brooks stood, with Max O'Connell in the Centenary Test Match between Australia and England, played at Melbourne on 12 to 17 March 1977, won by Australia by 45 runs – identical to the result of the first Test 100 years before. Dennis Lillee took 11 wickets, Rod Marsh finally achieved a century against England, debutant David Hookes hit English captain Tony Greig for five consecutive fours, Rick McCosker batted with a broken jaw, and Derek Randall scored a gallant 174, in a memorable match, attended by many of the past great names of Australian and English cricket. Last Test match Brooks' last Test match was between Australia and England at Perth from 15 to 20 December 1978, won by England by 166 runs, in spite of 10 wickets in the match to Rodney Hogg. Brooks' colleague was Robin Bailhache. Brooks made a few dubious decisions, and said later that he felt during the match that he was no longer umpiring at his best, and that he would rather be watching than umpiring. He retired from Test umpiring immediately after the match ended. It was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald (Mossop) and the Adelaide Advertiser (Coward), that he admitted that his nerve had cracked in the match. This was never said in any form and following legal representation a retraction was later printed by the Sydney Morning Herald, on the basis that its report had been obtained from a source found not to be trustworthy. The Adelaide Advertiser provided both a published and private apology. Career summary/honours He officiated 95 first-class matches in his career between 1967 and 1979. In 1977 he stood for a full season in the English County Championship and on the basis of points allocated out of ten per match by the various county captains relating to performance, there were only 5 (out of 28) first class umpires who accumulated more. Brooks received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to cricket and baseball in 1984.