Eric Brotherton

{{short description|South African cricketer and squash player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Eric Brotherton

| image =

| country = South Africa

| fullname = Eric James Brotherton

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|5|7|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Ventersburg, Orange Free State, South Africa

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|11|6|1938|5|7|df=yes}}

| death_place =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium-pace

| role =

| club1 = Eastern Province

| year1 = 1959–60 to 1960–61

| club2 = North Eastern Transvaal

| year2 = 1963–64 to 1969–70

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 39

| runs1 = 1866

| bat avg1 = 28.27

| 100s/50s1 = 2/10

| top score1 = 164 not out

| deliveries1 = 462

| wickets1 = 3

| bowl avg1 = 67.00

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 2/50

| catches/stumpings1 = 24/0

| date = 7 August

| year = 2014

| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/eric-brotherton-44245 Cricinfo

}}

Eric James Brotherton (7 May 1938 – 6 November 2022) was a South African cricketer and squash player.

Brotherton made his first-class debut in 1959–60, opening the batting for Eastern Province with his captain Geoff Dakin and scoring 215 runs at an average of 23.88, with most of his innings exceeding 20 but with a top score of 33.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/13/13062/f_Batting_by_Season.html Eric Brotherton batting by season] In 1960–61, when Eastern Province had their best season in the Currie Cup, finishing second with four wins from six matches, Brotherton scored 336 runs at 30.54.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/3/Currie_Cup_1960-61/Eastern_Province_Batting.html Eastern Province batting, Currie Cup 1960–61] He also played a first-class match for South African Universities, hitting 164 not out, the record score for the Universities team, against Western Province, putting on 227 for the fourth wicket with Colin Bland.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/24/24529.html Western Province v South African Universities 1960–61]

After a two-season gap he played for North Eastern Transvaal in 1963–64, leading the team's aggregates and averages with 308 runs at 30.80.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/3/Currie_Cup_1963-64/North_Eastern_Transvaal_Batting.html North Eastern Transvaal batting, Currie Cup 1963–64] He captained North Eastern Transvaal in 1964–65. When North Eastern Transvaal won Section B of the Currie Cup in 1965–66 he made 376 runs at 41.77,[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/2/Currie_Cup_1965-66/North_Eastern_Transvaal_Batting.html North Eastern Transvaal batting, Currie Cup 1965–66] scoring 111 in the first match of the season.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/27/27831.html North Eastern Transvaal v Transvaal B 1965–66] He played on with less success until 1969–70.

In the 1960s, Brotherton played squash for South Africa.[http://www.squashball.co.za/blog.php?user=SquashSA&category_id=40 SquashSA website] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140814031601/http://www.squashball.co.za/blog.php?user=SquashSA&category_id=40 |date=2014-08-14 }} Retrieved 8 August 2014. In 2002 he was awarded the Leo Melvill Memorial Award, an annual prize for significant contribution to the development, growth and enjoyment of squash in South Africa.{{cite web |title=Leo Melvill Memorial Award |url=https://kznmasters.co.za/awards/ |website=KZN Masters Squash |access-date=6 June 2023}} In the early 2000s, the annual Brotherton Cup national doubles tournament was instituted in his honour.{{cite news |last1=Fick |first1=Zoë |title=Master squash players showcased their skills at Brotherton Cup |url=https://www.knysnaplettherald.com/Sport/Article/Other/master-squash-players-showcased-their-skills-at-brotherton-cup-2024-202405021032 |access-date=3 June 2025 |work=Knysna-Plett Herald |date=4 May 2024}}