Athlete, Australian Cricketer. Born in Annandale, Sydney to Alfred Percival and Hilda (nee: Jeffrey) Barnes, May. Sidney better known as Sid never had the option to meet his father, he died before Sid was born from typhoid fever. After his death, Hilda, widowed and pregnant moved to Sydney with her children and stayed with her sister, where Sid was born. From her husband's estate, Hilda Barnes mother was able to purchase and renovate real estate in Stanmore and Leichhardt, New South Wales, to let or sell. Later in life, Sid would recount how, as a child, he used to collect the rents for his mother. His introduction to cricket came by his older brother, Horrie; who would pay Sid sixpence to bowl to him after he finished work. Taking an interest in the game, Sid had trials for the school team and was eventually selected in the first XI. In 1938 after one full season for New South Wales, Sid was the youngest player chosen to tour England in the Australian team led by (Sir) Donald Bradman. Despite missing half the matches because of injury, Sid managed to score 720 runs (average 42.35) and to play in the fifth Test. In 1940 and 1941 he scored six successive centuries. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on May 13, 1942; after dislocating his shoulder, he was discharged on September 1 for service in a reserved occupation. In June of that year he had married a schoolteacher Alison Margaret Edward at St Augustine's Anglican Church, in Stanmore. Except for coaching tours in the country with Jack Chegwyn, he played little cricket for three years, but scored centuries in five successive matches for New South Wales in 1945-46. In December 1946 Sid and Bradman set an Australian Test record of 405 for the fifth wicket in the Sydney Test against W. R. Hammond's touring English team each of them scored 234, which was to remain Sid's highest Test score. On his second tour of England in 1948, he amassed 1354 runs, averaged 56.41 in all matches and 82.25 in Tests, and scored 141 at Lord's. He caused much controversy by criticizing the behaviour of A. L. Hassett's Australian team in England in his book, Eyes on the Ashes (London, 1953), and by his autobiography, It Isn't Cricket (Sydney, 1953). His cricket career was over: he had scored 8333 first-class runs at an average of 54.11, while in 13 Tests he amassed 1072 runs at 63.06. He published The Ashes Ablaze (London, 1955) and turned to full-time writing, especially for the Daily Telegraph, his attitude and style were critical of players and officials whenever possible. Sid was an enthusiastic big game fisherman and golfer. Sid died at his home and was 57 years of age at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and his only daughter.