
James Brayshaw: Biography, Cricket, Media, and Family
If you remember a bloke called Jamie Brayshaw carving up for Western Australia with the bat, you might have blinked and missed him becoming one of Australia’s most recognisable media faces. This article tracks that full arc—from a first-class average of 42.53 to 16 years in television, the split from Channel Nine that made headlines, and what is actually known about his personal life and net worth.
Full Name: James Antony Brayshaw ·
Date of Birth: 11 May 1967 ·
Birthplace: Subiaco, Perth, Western Australia ·
Profession: Media personality, retired cricketer ·
Notable Role: Co-host of The Footy Show (Nine Network)
Quick snapshot
- Born 11 May 1967 in Subiaco, Perth (Wikipedia)
- Played first-class cricket for Western Australia and South Australia (Saxton Speakers)
- Co-hosted The Footy Show on Nine Network for 11 years (The Age)
- Son Henry Brayshaw is engaged to Annie Knight (Instagram)
- Exact net worth — no verified financial source
- Identity of first wife — not publicly documented
- Ages of all children — only Henry’s age is known
- Precise reason for Nine Network split — Brayshaw said “time, not money”
- 1987 — First-class debut for Western Australia
- 1996 — Retired from cricket, joined Seven Network Adelaide
- 2005–2016 — Co-host of The Footy Show on Nine
- 2016 — Left Nine, returned to Seven Network
- 2025 — Son Henry’s engagement made public
- Continuing as AFL commentator on Seven Network
- Radio role at Triple M ongoing
- Son Henry’s marriage plans likely to draw media attention
Seven biographical points, one pattern: most public records focus on Brayshaw’s cricket statistics and television years, while personal finances and private relationships remain barely sourced.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | James Antony Brayshaw |
| Date of Birth | 11 May 1967 |
| Age | 59 (as of 2025) |
| Height | Not publicly documented |
| Cricket Career | First-class cricketer, Western Australia and South Australia |
| Media Role | TV personality, AFL commentator, Triple M host |
| Children | Henry Brayshaw and others |
Who was James Brayshaw’s first wife?
Details about James Brayshaw’s first marriage
James Brayshaw was previously married, but his first wife’s name and background are not part of any public biography. No verified source — Wikipedia, Cricinfo, or news archives — lists her identity. A Saxton Speakers profile (Australia’s leading speaker bureau) and Wikipedia both skip the topic entirely.
The implication: if you are looking for personal details beyond what Brayshaw himself has shared, you will hit a wall. His media persona is built around sports commentary, not private disclosures.
Public information about his ex-wife
- James Brayshaw was married and later divorced — confirmed by multiple biographical sources (Wikipedia)
- His first wife is not named in any public record available as of 2025
- They had children together, including Henry Brayshaw
The catch: the absence of her name is itself a data point. Brayshaw has kept his former marriage entirely out of the public eye, and no Australian tabloid or sports publication has identified her.
Did James Brayshaw play cricket?
James Brayshaw’s cricket career overview
Yes — James Brayshaw, known on the pitch as Jamie Brayshaw, played first-class cricket for Western Australia from 1987, and later for South Australia, spanning nearly a decade (Wikipedia). He was a right-hand batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler.
- First-class debut: 1987 for Western Australia (Richest Singer)
- Played 75 first-class matches (Richest Singer)
- Scored 4,934 first-class runs at an average of 42.53 (Saxton Speakers)
- Highest score: 201 not out against South Australia in 1991 (Richest Singer)
- Took 43 catches in domestic cricket (Wikipedia)
- Two-time Sheffield Shield winner with two different states (Wikipedia)
A first-class average of 42.53 would have kept him in the conversation for national selection had he persisted. Instead, Brayshaw swapped a potential Test career for a television microphone — a bet that paid off given his 16-year media run.
First-class cricket statistics
Five first-class numbers, one pattern: Brayshaw was more durable than flashy — a batsman who built innings rather than blasting them.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | 75 |
| Runs | 4,934 |
| Batting average | 42.53 |
| Highest score | 201 not out |
| Catches | 43 |
Why this matters: those numbers would rank Brayshaw comfortably among Australia’s top 20 first-class run-scorers of the 1990s — yet he is remembered less for his batting average than for his co-host chair on The Footy Show.
How much does James Brayshaw earn?
James Brayshaw net worth estimates
Public net worth figures for James Brayshaw come from fan-generated sites and not from audited statements. This is an area where even the most credible-looking numbers should be handled with caution.
- One profile estimates net worth at around US$2 million (Richest Singer), but the site does not cite its methodology
- No Australian financial publication or legal record has published a verified net worth
- Brayshaw himself has not disclosed his earnings in any known interview
The pattern: net worth claims for Australian media personalities who are not business owners or investors tend to be guesswork. Take any number as indicative, not definitive.
Sources of income
- Television work: AFL commentary for Seven Network
- Radio: co-host role at Triple M
- Speaking engagements: represented by Saxton Speakers (Saxton Speakers)
- Former salary: co-host of The Footy Show on Nine Network (2005–2016)
If Brayshaw’s speaking fee or Seven Network salary ever becomes public through a corporate filing or an industry report, that would be the first reliable anchor point. Until then, net worth figures are just conjecture.
Who is James Brayshaw’s son engaged to?
Details about Henry Brayshaw’s fiancée
James Brayshaw’s son, Henry Brayshaw, is engaged to Annie Knight. The engagement was announced publicly via social media in 2025. Henry Brayshaw has spoken openly in interviews about his past gambling addiction and his ongoing recovery (Instagram).
- Henry Brayshaw is James Brayshaw’s son from his first marriage
- Annie Knight is Henry’s fiancée
- Henry has publicly discussed his gambling addiction — a topic that has drawn media attention given his father’s high-profile media career
Public reactions
Henry’s engagement and his personal story have generated significant interest because they reveal a side of the Brayshaw family that James has kept private. The younger Brayshaw’s candidness about addiction has been widely covered by Australian sports media.
The trade-off for James Brayshaw: a private man suddenly has his son’s personal struggles and romance played out in the same public arena where he built his career.
How old are James Brayshaw’s children?
James Brayshaw’s children names and ages
Public records confirm that James Brayshaw has multiple children, but only Henry Brayshaw’s age is known with any certainty. The names and ages of his other children have not been disclosed (Wikipedia).
- Henry Brayshaw: adult son, engaged to Annie Knight in 2025
- Other children: not publicly named
- Ages of all children: not fully documented in any verified source
The catch: James Brayshaw has successfully kept most of his family life out of the media spotlight. If you are looking for a family tree, you will only find Henry.
Timeline
- 11 May 1967 — James Brayshaw born in Subiaco, Perth (Wikipedia)
- 1987 — First-class debut for Western Australia (Richest Singer)
- 1980s–1990s — Played first-class cricket for Western Australia and South Australia, won two Sheffield Shields (Wikipedia)
- 1996 — Retired from cricket at age 30; joined Seven Network in Adelaide (CelebWikiCorner)
- 2005 — Became co-host of The Footy Show on Nine Network (The Age)
- 2016 — Departed Nine Network; publicly stated the split was about “time, not money” (The Age)
- 2016–present — AFL commentator for Seven Network and radio host for Triple M
- 2025 — Son Henry Brayshaw’s engagement to Annie Knight announced on social media
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- James Brayshaw played first-class cricket for Western Australia and South Australia (Wikipedia)
- He worked for Nine Network as co-host of The Footy Show for 11 years (The Age)
- Son Henry is engaged to Annie Knight
- He has multiple children
- He is a current AFL commentator on Seven Network and host on Triple M
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth — no verified financial source exists
- Identity of first wife — never publicly named
- Ages of all children — only Henry’s age is known
- Reasons for split with Nine Network — Brayshaw’s “time, not money” explanation remains the only public statement
Quotes
“The reason for leaving was time, not money.”
— James Brayshaw, explaining his split from Nine Network in 2016 (The Age)
“I’ve spoken about my gambling addiction publicly because I want others to know they’re not alone.”
— Henry Brayshaw, on his personal struggles
James Brayshaw built a career on being a warm, relatable TV presence, yet he has kept his personal life largely off-limits. His son’s public candour about addiction has opened a window that his father never did.
coastfocus.org, youtube.com, msn.com, bigfooty.com, 7news.com.au, tv.apple.com, nuevocontinentebajio.edu.mx
The recent engagement of his son Henry has drawn public interest, with his sons engagement details offering a closer look at the family’s milestones.
Frequently asked questions
Is James Brayshaw still married?
No. James Brayshaw was previously married and is now divorced. His current relationship status is not publicly documented.
What is James Brayshaw’s height?
James Brayshaw’s height is not publicly documented in any verified source.
How many children does James Brayshaw have?
James Brayshaw has multiple children. Only his son Henry Brayshaw is publicly known. The names and number of his other children have not been disclosed.
What team did James Brayshaw play for in cricket?
James Brayshaw played first-class cricket for Western Australia and later for South Australia. He won the Sheffield Shield with both states.
Does James Brayshaw have a Wikipedia page?
Yes. James Brayshaw has a Wikipedia page under his full name, covering his cricket career and media work.
What is James Brayshaw’s current role at Seven Network?
James Brayshaw is an AFL commentator for the Seven Network and also hosts a show on Triple M radio.
Why did James Brayshaw leave Nine Network?
James Brayshaw has stated publicly that his departure from the Nine Network was about “time, not money.” He left in 2016 after 11 years as co-host of The Footy Show.
Related reading
For Australian sports fans, the Brayshaw story is a lesson in the value of a second act. A first-class cricketer who walked away at 30 and built a 25-year media career. The decision to leave Nine Network was about time, not money. For any media professional eyeing a career pivot, the lesson is clear: know when your currency is time, and be willing to spend it elsewhere.