Frank Worrell

Sir Frank Worrell

Personal information
Full name	Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell
Born	(1924-08-01)1 August 1924 Bridgetown,Saint Michael,Colony of Barbados
Died	13 March 1967(1967-03-13)(aged 42) Kingston,Jamaica
Nickname	Tae, Flanny
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Slow left arm orthodox Left armmedium
Relations	Larry Worrell(cousin)
International information
National side	West Indies(1948–1963)
Test debut (cap61)	11 February 1948 vEngland
Last Test	26 August 1963 vEngland
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1941–1947	Barbados
1947–1964	Jamaica
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 51 208 Runs scored 3,860 15,025 Batting average 49.48 54.24 100s/50s 9/22 39/80 Top score 261 308* Ballsbowled 7,141 26,979 Wickets 69 349 Bowling average 38.72 28.98 5 wickets in innings 2 13 10 wickets in match 0 0 Best bowling 7/70 7/70 Catches/stumpings 43/– 139/–
Source:CricketArchive,8 January 2009

Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell(1 August 1924 – 13 March 1967), sometimes referred to by his nickname ofTae,was aBarbadianWest Indiescricketer andJamaican senator.A stylish right-handedbatsmanand useful left-armseam bowler,he became famous in the 1950s as the second black captain of theWest Indies cricket team.Along withEverton WeekesandClyde Walcott,he formed what was known as "The Three Ws"of the West Indian cricket. He was the first batter to have been involved in two 500-run partnershipsand remained the only one untilRavindra Jadejaemulated him in the 2010s.

TheFrank Worrell Trophyis awarded to the winner of the frequent Test series between Australia and West Indies

He spent some time studying economics and playing inEngland.A memorial service was held in his honour inWestminster Abbey,the first such honour for a sportsman.

In 2009, Worrell was inducted into theICC Cricket Hall of Fame.He is widely regarded as theNelson Mandelaof cricket.

Career

Frank Worrell was born in Barbados, within a mile of its Test ground. He played first class cricket for Barbados when he first came to prominence. By 1947, his mother had moved to New York City, and his father was away at sea most of the time, and Worrell moved toJamaica.Thereafter he played cricket for Jamaica.

As a player forWest Indies,Worrell made his debut in 1947–48 versus theEngland teamofGubby Allen.Following this series he settled in England to play forRadcliffe, Lancashire,in the Central Lancashire League and to read economics atManchester University.He made his highest Test score of 261 against England atTrent Bridgein 1950, and was aWisden Cricketer of the Yearfor 1951.

Following a successful campaign led byC. L. R. James,who was then the editor ofThe Nationin Trinidad, theperiod of white Test captaincyin the West Indies came to an end. Worrell became the first black cricketer to captain theWest Indies cricket teamfor an entire series, thus breaking the colour barriers then found in West Indian cricket.He led the side on two particularly notable tours. The first was toAustralia in 1960–61.Both Worrell and his opposing captain,Richie Benaud,encouraged their teams to play attacking cricket. The first Test of the series ended in a dramatictie.Though West Indies lost the series 2–1, with one draw in addition to the tie, they took much credit for contributing to the series. Such was their performance and conduct on Australian soil that they were given a large ticker-tape parade in Australia at the end of their tour.

On 3 February 1962,Nari Contractor,the captain of the touring Indian team, received a career-ending head injury from a bouncer bowled by West Indies fast bowlerCharlie Griffith.Worrell was the first player from both sides to donate blood to the injured Contractor, which saved his life.

In 1963, West Indies toured England. They were again popular, and this time they also won the series 3–1, and it was West Indies' second series victory in England after their 3–1 win in 1950.

Worrell retired after the West Indies–England series. When he left professional cricket, he became Warden of Irvine Hall at theUniversity of the West Indies,and was appointed to the Jamaican Senate by SirAlexander Bustamante.He strongly supported a closer political union between the nations of the Caribbean. He wasknightedfor his services to cricket in 1964.

Left to right:Ray Lindwall,Australian Prime MinisterRobert Menzies,Lindsay Hassett,Frank Worrell

Worrell managed the West Indies during the 1964–65 visit by Australia. He accompanied the team to India in the winter of 1966–67.

Worrell was the first West Indian tocarry his batin a Test innings.Whilst in India, he was diagnosed withleukaemia.

He died aged 42, a month after returning to Jamaica. A memorial service was held in his honour inWestminster Abbey,the first such honour for a sportsman, the next being forBobby Moorein 1993.

Legacy

Trophy

Since the 1960–61 series, theFrank Worrell Trophyis awarded to the winner of the Test series between Australia and West Indies.

Ground

TheSir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground,also or formerly known as University of West Indies Ground, is a cricketstadiuminSaint Augustine,Trinidad and Tobago.TheSir Frank Worrell Cricket Groundat the university's Mona Campus in Jamaica in also named for Worrell.

Banknote

In March 2002, "to commemorate the 30th anniversary of theCentral Bank of Barbados",a limited-edition $5 banknote bearing Worrell's likeness was issued.

Stamp

In 1988, he was celebrated on the $2Barbadian stampalongside theBarbados Cricket Buckle.

University halls and lecture

The annual Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Lecture was instituted atUniversity of the West Indies(UWI)Cave Hill Campus,Barbados, by ProfessorHilary Beckles.The inaugural lecture, "Sir Frank and the rise of West Indies cricket" was delivered byMichael Manleyin 1994.Nearby one of the Halls of Residence is named after him.

Memorial Committee

In 2007, theSir Frank Worrell Memorial Committeewas founded to mark the 40th anniversary of his death (which coincided with the opening match – West Indiesvs.Pakistan, Sabina Park, Jamaica, of the ICC Cricket World Cup hosted across the islands).

Blood donation drives

In 2009, the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Blood Drive was begun inTrinidad and Tobago,inaugurated by the 74-year-old Nari Contractor,to whom Worrell had donated blood after his head injury in 1962.In remembrance of this, theCricket Association of Bengalorganises a blood donation drive on this day every year,and the day is commemorated as Sir Frank Worrell Day in the state ofWest Bengalin India.

Food outlet branding

Tibb's Frankie, since 1969, is an Indian-centred chain of over 150 stuffed, crispened pita outlets named after him as the founder's favourite cricketer; its signature and custom wraps are "Frankies". An outlet operates in the O2 Business Tower inDubai.

Films and entertainment

He also made a special guest appearance in the 1967BollywoodfilmAround the World.He had a small role with actorOm PrakashandMehmood.

See also

• Development of the Test captaincy of West Indies

Further reading

• Worrell, F.M.M. (1959).Cricket Punch.London: Stanley Paul.OCLC6313637.
• —————— (1992).The Sir Frank Worrell Pictorial.New York: Creativity/Innovation Services.ISBN1881492001.
• Tennant, Ivo (1987).Frank Worrell: A Biography.Cambridge: Lutterworth.ISBN0718826132.
• Baksh, Vaneisa (2023).Son of Grace: Frank Worrell – A Biography.Bath, UK: Fairfield Books.ISBN9781915237309.
• Eytle, Ernest; Constantine, Learie (1963).Frank Worrell: The Career of a Great Cricketer.London: Hodder and Stoughton.OCLC825558209.
• Giuseppe, Undine (1969).Sir Frank Worrell.Men of Greatness series. London: Thomas Nelson and Sons.ISBN0175660395.
• Pilgrim, Torrey (1991).Our Greatest Ambassador Ever: The Sir Frank Worrell Souvenir.Bridgetown, Barbados: Independently published.OCLC26851287.

External links

• Frank WorrellatESPNcricinfo
• Article on Worrell