Frank Worrel birth centenary today -Most stylish of all batsmen ?

[Harsh Thakor]

Today the cricket world celebrates the birth centenary of Sir Frank Worrell.

Very few cricketers or sportsman bestowed grace or sportsmanship at such a height as Sir Frank Worrell, on and off the field .Worrell reminded one of a priest bowing before a pulpit. Worrell transcended cricketing aestheticism or barriers in artistry in heavenly regions. giving the game its soul. When playing he never abused opponents, dealing with those around him with the same grace he caressed a cricket ball. 

His batting gave vibrations of lotus blooming in full. The ensemble of his strokes was the game’s equivalent of a Musical conjeto.His only flaw was his execution of the hook shot or in tackling the short pitched delivery. I rank him amongst the 3 most elegant right handed batsmen ever.

 

 

 

He was the first black captain to lead West Indies when appointed skipper in 1960-61 Frank Worrell was a mascot for pride and dignity of the Afro-American race.Worrell was the pioneer in the black man being the flesh and blood of West Indies Cricket. Earlier it was a sheer monopoly of the white man.

Worrell carried the mantle of a mascot for the coloured people. Few sportsperson ever contributed more in elevating the pride of the black people. Very sadly he left us at the very tender at the tender age of 43 in 1967, because of leukamia.Cricket had truly lost it's apostle.

Overall in test cricket Worrell scored 3860 runs at an average of 49.48 and 9 centuries in 51 test matches. In 1st class cricket Worrell's statistics were simply staggering, averaging over 54.with 308 being his   highest score. On the 1949 Commonwealth tour of India, Pakistan and Ceylon, he displayed phenomenal consistency, averaging over 74 overall and amassing 1600 runs..Notably Worrell also was a participant in a 502 run partnership with Trevor Goddard in 1943 and a 574 run partnership with Clyde Walcott in 1948.
 

Worrell also was an effective bowler capturing 69 wickets at an average of around 38,with best figures of 7-70.In first class Cricket he had 349 scalps at an average of around 29,wih 13 five wicket hauls.

Worrell was part of the famous trio of 'W's with Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott. His batting was in striking contrast to that of Weekes and Worrell who carried bat like a bludgeon. However his timing and placement was so spectacular that he could score runs at an even faster speed, than his compatriots.

Statistically he was overshadowed by Weekes and Walcott in his day, George Headley earlier, and later Gary Sobers,Viv Richards and Brian Lara. However to me none manifested purity or style at an equal scale.

 

 

 

 

Frank.Worrell was the best West Indies captain of all, winning 9 out of 15 tests., and ranks amongst the best ever skippers in cricket history. Worrell scored his best innings in the most challenging circumstances or conditions. Overall as a cricketer generally he is ranked below the likes of Viv, Sobers, Lara, Marshall,Headley and Weekes. The 2000 edition of Wisden ranked Worrell at 5th equal place, amongst the cricketers of the last century. Writers John Woodcock and Cristopher Martin Jenkins ranks Worrell amongst the 40 best cricketers ever. Geoff Armstrong places him at 26th, place above even Weekes, Headley and Walcott, on grounds of his contribution as a leader. Some ex cricketers chose Worrell in their all-Time test XI.Summing all criteria, I would choose Worrell amongst the 40 best cricketers of all time and amongst West Indies cricketers, only behind Sobers,Viv Richards,Brian Lara ,and Malcolm Marshall.Taking into account his prowess as a leader and bowler, arguably b a whisker he stands ahead of Weekes,Walcott or Headley.

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2024 by Harsh Thakor