Sir Frank Worrell
1 August 1924, in Bank Hall, St. Michael, Barbados.
West Indies, Barbados and Jamaica.
Named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1951, Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell - the elder statesman of Windies cricket - was knighted in 1964 for services to the game. During his 23-year career, the ‘graceful, poised and dignified’ campaigner for fair play scored 15,025 runs in First-class cricket, for an average of 54.24, including 39 centuries, with a career best of 308 not out. In 51 Test matches, he made 3,860 runs in 87 innings, with a top score of 261. This included nine centuries and 22 half-centuries. He took 69 wickets at an average of 38.72, with his best bowling being seven for 70. It has been said Worrell ‘had a greater influence on cricket than any other player or administrator’. He transcended social and racial barriers to captain the West Indies team, uniting the islands into cohesive world champions. Although the West Indies team lost the 1960/61 Calypso Summer tour, Worrell led the charge that did much to restore the good name of cricket internationally, and half a million Australians lined the streets of Melbourne in a ticker tape farewell to Worrell and his West Indies team. The master batsman was later Warden of the University College of the West Indies and a Senator in Parliament. He was the first cricketer to be honoured with a memorial service in Westminster Abbey.
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