in 1957–58, the australian test team toured south africa during the southern hemisphere summer, opening up opportunities in the shield competition back in australia. booth established himself at first-class level with 503 runs at 50.30. after scoring two fifties, he broke through for his maiden first-class century against the victorian bushrangers at the sydney cricket ground, in his last match of the season. he put on a partnership of 325 with future test teammate norm o'neill in fewer than four hours. it was his fifteenth first-class match, and helped his state secure a fifth successive title with a ten-wicket win over their arch-rivals. with the test players returning to australia in 1958–59, booth again faced more competition for places. he struggled, playing six matches and aggregating only 190 runs at 31.66. he only had six innings for the entire season, and in his only opportunity against peter may's touring englishmen, he made a duck. booth passed 50 on two occasions during the season, making 75 and 85. in one high-scoring match against south australia, he took 0/97 with his part-time off spin.