| Country: | England |
| Fullname: | Paul Wilson Brooks |
| Nickname: | Mr[1] |
| Birth Date: | 28 May 1921 |
| Birth Place: | Marylebone, London, England |
| Death Place: | Paddington, London, England |
| Batting: | Left-handed |
| Bowling: | Left-arm fast-medium |
| Club1: | Middlesex |
| Year1: | 1939 |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 1 |
| Runs1: | 44 |
| Bat Avg1: | – |
| 100S/50S1: | –/– |
| Top Score1: | 44 |
| Deliveries1: | – |
| Wickets1: | – |
| Bowl Avg1: | – |
| Fivefor1: | – |
| Tenfor1: | – |
| Best Bowling1: | – |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | –/– |
| Date: | 14 April |
| Year: | 2012 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/10029.html Cricinfo |
Paul Wilson Brooks (28 May 1921 – 26 January 1946) was an English cricketer. Brooks was a left-handed batsman who bowled left-arm fast-medium. The son of William James Brooks and Mabel Brooks,[2] he was born at Marylebone, London.
Prior to appearing in first-class cricket, Wilson had played Second XI cricket for Middlesex,[3] and on one notable occasion he bowled the Australian Don Bradman in a practice session at Lord's before the 1938 season began, making him a celebrity for a short time.[4] [5] [6] The following year he made what was to be his only first-class appearance for Middlesex against Warwickshire in the County Championship at Lord's.[7] This was the final first-class match played by Middlesex that season, and Brooks was drafted into the team after a number of regular players had been drafted into the armed services due to rising tensions with Germany.[8] In a match which Middlesex won by an innings and 200 runs, Brooks batted once, scoring an unbeaten 44.[9]
During the early part of World War II he served in London and Coventry with the National Fire Service during the height of The Blitz.[6] [8] He later served in the Coldstream Guards, reaching the rank of lance corporal.[2] While fighting in Italy in April 1945, Brooks was wounded in the spine by a sniper. He never recovered and was bedridden ever after, eventually dying of his injury at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, on the night of 26 January 1946.[6] He was laid to rest at Brompton Cemetery.[2]