booth was selected for the australian team that toured england in 1961 and played in the final two tests. upon his return to australia, booth made two centuries in the 1962–63 home test series against england, establishing himself in the test team. he made two further centuries the following summer against south africa and was named the australian player of the year. following the retirement of richie benaud, booth was appointed vice-captain under simpson as australia embarked on a successful 1964 tour of england, which saw the retention of the ashes. booth played his final test series in 1965–66 against england, captaining australia in the first and third tests because simpson was sidelined with a broken wrist and chickenpox respectively. the first test was drawn but australia fell to its first innings defeat in almost ten years in the third test. as he was also in a form slump, booth was dropped as the australian selectors made mass changes, ending his career. in retirement, booth returned to his teaching duties and served as an anglican lay-preacher. he was inducted into the cricket nsw hall of fame in 2014.