Salute to Bill Brown, 90 not out

SYDNEY - Test captains from three countries, along with survivors of Don Bradman's greatest team, gathered in Sydney tonight to honour world cricket's oldest living skipper, former Invincible Bill Brown.

The Brisbane 90-year-old was feted at a testimonial dinner chaired by former England captain Tony Greig with guests including ex-Australian skippers Brian Booth, Bob Simpson and Ian Craig, and New Zealand great Walter Hadlee.

Hadlee's son, cricketing knight Sir Richard, also joined the tribute, along with former Australian paceman Geoff Lawson.

Completing the line-up were members of Bradman's 1948 Invincibles Bill Johnston, Sam Loxton, Neil Harvey and Arthur Morris.

Brown, who played in the first two Tests of the 1948 Ashes series, captained Australia in 1946 in the inaugural Test against New Zealand.

He scored two centuries at Lord's and averaged over 46 in a 22-Test career either side of WWII.

Cricket's elder statesman has declared the modern game to be in "a good state of health" despite sledging which he can't stand and the '90s match-fixing scandals which he calls "completely beyond the pale, they've got to be stopped".

Brown is the sixth Australian Test player to live into his nineties.

Australia's oldest Test cricketer was Ken Burn, who died in 1956 aged 93 years and 307 days.

Items auctioned at tonight's dinner included a 1948 Ashes bat signed by both teams.

Funds raised will help the Lord's Taverners Australia assist disadvantaged children.