16 Facts about Frank Worrell: The epitome of class

If the history of West Indies was condensed to a word or two, it definitely would point at Sir Frank Worrell. Of course, Worrell was knighted similar to most of his teammates at the time, none of them would have had as much of an impact as Frank Worrell had on the West Indies team. He effectively set the trend for the West Indies cricket for the following 40 years. On his birthday, we take a look at some of the greatest contributions from one of cricket’s greatest.

1. The pride of Barbados:

Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell was born on the 1st of August 1924 in Saint Michael, Barbados.

2. Hey Tae!:

Some of Worrell’s nicknames include Tae, something he is usually referred to. He was also fondly known as Flanny.

3. In the Elite company of Sir Frank Worrell:

Although he may not have been this way as far as his personality is concerned, his name itself exuded some sort of West Indian royalty. He could have very well been the monarch of the West Indies. Along with Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott, he formed what was known as “The Three Ws” of the West Indian cricket.

4. First black captain of the West Indies:

Sir Frank Worrell became the first black captain of the West Indies when he led a strong West Indies side to a tour of England in 1950s.

5. More than just a cricket team:

Any West Indies cricket team is much more than just a cricket team. While the Caribbean islands are divided up into several countries by themselves, the West Indies cricket team is perhaps the only symbol that unites them. Sir Worrell was a closer political union between the nations of the Caribbean.

6. Learie Constantine and his men:

Learie Constantine, one of Worrell’s best men with the bat wrote a tribute to Sir Worrell shortly after his death. The article was subsequently published in the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack and deemed one of the best pieces of journalistic work in history.

7. Nari Contractor’s gambit:

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 bowler Charlie Griffith. Worrell was the first player from both sides to donate blood to the injured Contractor, which saved his life. In 1963.

8. Up against Richie Benaud:

Worrell led a West Indies side to Australia in 1961 to face up to the might of a strong side led by the great Richie Benaud.

9. First ever tied Test:

With both captains, Benaud and Worrell encouraging their players to play aggressive cricket, the first Test at Brisbane saw the first ever tied Test match in the long and illustrious history

10. The aura of Westminster Abbey:

Shortly after his death, Worrell’s memorial service was held at the historic Westminster Abbey, making him the only sportsperson to have such an honor.

11. The ‘Sir Worrell’ memorial:

The Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, also or formerly known as University of West Indies Ground, is a cricket stadium in Saint Augustine, Trinidad, and Tobago.

12. Sir Wes and Sir Frank:

Constantine’s article read: “As Wes Hall prepared for the final over which could have won or lost the Lord’s Test, Worrell went over to him with some advice. What was he saying? Bounce them? Bowl `em straight? No, none of the obvious things. Sir Frank said calmly: “Make sure you don’t give it to them by bowling no balls.” Worrell was the calmest man at Lord’s that day and trust him to think of a highly pertinent point which Hall, in his excitement, may have overlooked.”

13. The Renaissance of West Indies cricket:

Nearing towards the end of his cricketing career, Sir Frank Worrell gifted the West Indies with their next skipper. Sir Garfield Sobers too went on to exude the splendidness and perfection and class of Frank Worrell. As Learie Constantine wrote: “He had groomed Sobers well for the captaincy and theirs was an unbeatable partnership. At last, the West Indies were the undisputed champions in their truly national sport.”

14. The Jamaican senate:

After receiving his knighthood in 1964, Worrell was inducted into the Jamaican senate and would serve as a senator until his death in 1967.

15. The doldrums of Trent Bridge:

Sir Frank Worrell’s best Test innings came against England at Headingley where he smashed 261.

16. Leukemia and death:

It was while in India that he was diagnosed with leukaemia. He died at the age of 42, a month after returning to Jamaica.