Middlesex Cricket is saddened to hear of the passing of Rustom Cooper, who died peacefully in his sleep on Monday night at his home in Mumbai.
Rustom was the oldest living first-class cricketer and played for Middlesex for three seasons in a golden era for the Club. He was an outstanding Club cricketer and a legend at Hornsey Cricket Club.
Born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, on 14th December 1922, the right-handed batter played for Middlesex between the years 1949 and 1951, when he played alongside the likes of Jack Robertson, Denis Compton, Bill Edrich, Fred Titmus, and Gubby Allen.
He made eight appearances for the Club, top scoring with 54 against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham in August 1950, and in total made 22 first-class appearances in his career, also playing for Bombay and Parsees, finishing with a first-class career average of 52.39 and a highest score of 127 not out.
Cooper came to Middlesex's attention through Denis Compton, who spotted his talent whilst playing cricket against him whilst serving in the Army in India during the Second World War. At Compton's request, Russi moved to England, took a placement at the London School of Economics, whilst pursuing a career as a professional in the English game.
Whilst in England, Cooper became a regular for Hornsey Cricket Club, where he was a prolific run-scorer, hitting an incredible 6,000 runs between the years of 1946 and 1953.
In his debut season for Hornsey he averaged over 114 and in his time at the Club hit nineteen centuries - eighteen of which were not out.
The thoughts and prayers of all at Middlesex are with Rustom's family and friends at this extremely sad time. Rest In Peace.
