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| 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 |
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| Test debut (cap 61) | 11 February 1948 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 26 August 1963 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1941–1947 | Barbados | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1947–1964 | Jamaica | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:CricketArchive,8 January 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Hon.Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell (1 August 1924 – 13 March 1967), sometimes referred to by his nickname of "Tae", was aBarbadianWest Indies cricketer andJamaican senator. A stylish right-handedbatsman and useful left-armseam bowler, he became famous in the 1950s as the first black captain of theWest Indies cricket team. Along withEverton Weekes andClyde 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 partnerships[1] and remained the only one untilRavindra Jadeja emulated him in the 2010s.
TheFrank Worrell Trophy is 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.[2] He is widely regarded as theNelson Mandela of cricket.[3]
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 team ofGubby 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 Bridge in 1950, and was aWisden Cricketer of the Year for 1951.
Following a successful campaign led byC. L. R. James, who was then the editor ofThe Nation in Trinidad, theperiod of white Test captaincy in the West Indies came to an end. Worrell became the first black cricketer to captain theWest Indies cricket team for an entire series, thus breaking the colour barriers then found in West Indian cricket.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6][7]
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 bySir Alexander Bustamante. He strongly supported a closer political union between the nations of the Caribbean. He wasknighted byElizabeth II for his services to cricket as part of Her Majesty's1964 New Year Honours.[8]
Worrell was aFreemason, belonging to Sussex Lodge No. 354, Kingston, from 1954 until his death, attaining the rank of Master Mason.[9]
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 bat in a Test innings.[10]
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 Moore in 1993.
Since the 1960–61 series, theFrank Worrell Trophy is awarded to the winner of the Test series between Australia and West Indies.[11]
TheSir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, also or formerly known as University of West Indies Ground, is a cricketstadium inSaint Augustine,Trinidad and Tobago.[12] TheSir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground at the university's Mona Campus in Jamaica in also named for Worrell.[13]
In March 2002, "to commemorate the 30th anniversary of theCentral Bank of Barbados", a limited-edition $5 banknote bearing Worrell's likeness was issued.[14]
In 1988, he was celebrated on the $2Barbadian stamp alongside theBarbados Cricket Buckle.
The annual Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Lecture was instituted atUniversity of the West Indies (UWI)Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, by ProfessorHilary Beckles.[15] The inaugural lecture, "Sir Frank and the rise of West Indies cricket" was delivered byMichael Manley in 1994.[16] Nearby one of the Halls of Residence is named after him.
In 2007, theSir Frank Worrell Memorial Committee was 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).
In 2009, the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Blood Drive was begun inTrinidad and Tobago, inaugurated by the 74-year-old Nari Contractor,[17] to whom Worrell had donated blood after his head injury in 1962.[18] In remembrance of this, theCricket Association of Bengal organises a blood donation drive on this day every year,[19] and the day is commemorated as Sir Frank Worrell Day in the state ofWest Bengal in India.
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.[20]
He also made a special guest appearance in the 1967Bollywood filmAround the World. He had a small role with actorOm Prakash andMehmood.
Ivo Tennant,Simon Lister and Vaneisa Baksh have published biographies of Worrell.
| Preceded by | West Indies Test cricket captains 1960/1 - 1963 | Succeeded by |
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