August 1 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Frank Worrell. That makes it a special day in Barbados and West Indies history – for Worrell was an outstanding cricketer, exceptional captain, revered statesman, and global icon.
He was a member of the incomparable 3Ws – the first sporting ‘stars’ in Bajan history – the trio who revolutionised the approach to batsmanship, how runs should be compiled, and how the game was celebrated. In this pre-Independence era, where opportunities were few and access was restricted, Caribbean men and boys saw mirror images of themselves, and could see first-hand heroes who inspired them, and whom they could emulate.
Having been officially appointed the regional team’s first ever full-time Black captain, Sir Frank’s exploits on the field have him ranked among the finest players the West Indies ever produced. His impeccable leadership on the 1960-61 tour of Australia saw him as a hands-on captain who cared about his charges. This was demonstrated in how he revolutionised the way the game was played. One of the most memorable contests in Test history remains the Tied Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, when he guided the West Indies team to the most famous result ever witnessed.
Sir Frank’s legacy is one of overcoming obstacles, meeting challenges, the pursuit of excellence, and championing the causes he believed in. I must declare I am a devotee to the history of West Indies cricket, and my interest in the virtues of Sir Frank was enhanced in 2020 after a meeting with Cricket Australia.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the Tied Test I initiated a project with Cricket Australia to reunite the men who played in the match. This was at the height of the pandemic, and was executed via Zoom. It sparked great interest – to hear the heroes of that series speak with reverence on Frank, “the man who was loved by everyone.”
On a tour of Australia, I was presented with a superbly compiled ‘scrapbook’ by John Slender, who introduced himself as a “then young man, making my way in life and captivated by Worrell’s on-field brilliance in the 1960-61 tour.” He joined us at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He collated the document throughout the historic 1960-61 tour, and held onto it in the hope of “sharing the glory of the West Indies team led by Frank Worrell, a man among men.”
Two recent publications on Sir Frank’s life and times demonstrate this. Simon Lister’s “Worrell” captures the West Indies first Black captain on the field. Vaneisa Baksh, the Trinidadian author, wrote “Son of Grace,” which captures his private life.
Baksh noted: “Sir Frank Worrell cast an indelible mark on West Indian civilisation. As a cricketer, he was a player of finesse; as a Caribbean integrationist, he championed the causes of equity, and insisted on the inclusion of all the territories into the fold of the West Indies team. Significantly, he believed in providing opportunities for the less fortunate, and mentored a generation into believing in themselves and their worth as humans, deserving of respect and recognition.”
We owe a debt of gratitude to the legacy of Sir Frank, and on this centenary date of his birth – August 1, 1924 – it is doubly fitting that it is the day we mark as Emancipation Day.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph in the United Kingdom, Scyld Berry set about asking what West Indies cricket would look like under Worrell’s stewardship. He wrote: “Worrell was not only a great cricketer but a pan-Caribbean statesman. He died of leukaemia aged 42, in 1967, shortly after he had brought West Indian cricket – a unique combination of athleticism and artistry – to fulfilment.”
He added: “We know the first Black West Indies captain (after George Headley had been given one game) was Worrell in 1960. But both biographies point out that Worrell was first offered the captaincy in 1957, after that disastrous tour. The West Indies cricket board, to its credit, did offer the job to the right man – and Worrell refused. He was studying for a degree at Manchester University, while making his living as a league professional in Lancashire; and it was conceivable that the board would depose him after a couple of Test series against Asian opposition, once England and Australia came along.”
Berry concluded: “West Indies Test cricket is too precious to lose. The human form has seldom been seen to such effect as when Sir Garfield Sobers did anything on a cricket field, when Worrell himself played a late cut, when Michael Holding began his run up, or when Richards tugged his maroon cap, chewed his gum, and smote his first ball for four.”
Due to his dedication and devotion to the game, Sir Frank is among the game’s elite inducted into the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Hall of Fame. I was present in March, 2009 when his Hall of Fame cap was presented.
The tribute in part: “… an elegant batsman, he scored
3 860 runs in 51 Tests at an average of 49.48, including nine centuries. He also picked up 69 wickets with 7 for 70 being his best bowling figures in an innings. More than his batting and bowling skills, he is remembered for his charismatic and influential personality, a person who united the team. He died on March 13, 1967 and was one of the 55 members to be inducted.”
Sir Frank’s is the face on the Barbados five-dollar note. This is one of the few emblems used to commemorate his work. He stands supreme among the pantheon of great men who have played the game and for those for whom his contribution mattered, he is heralded and saluted on this day – Sir Frank Worrell Day.
Philip Spooner is a former Head of Media at Cricket West Indies and also worked as Media Manager for the West Indies for over a decade. More recently he held the role of Global Media Operations Manager for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
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