Famous England fast bowler Frank Tyson dies, aged 85, in Australia
Former England fast bowler Frank Tyson, who was renowned as one of the fastest bowlers ever in international cricket has died in Australia. He was 85.
He earned the nickname ‘Typhoon’ for his sheer pace during his 17 Tests career for England between 1954 and 1959. He took 76 wickets at an average of 18.56. But, he had to bid adieu cricket early at the age of 30 as his body could not sustain his demanding bowling action.
One of the Tyson’s most remarkable performance came against Australia in the 1954-55 Ashes, in which he picked up 28 wickets in five Tests at an average of 20.82, that helped England to clinch the series 3-1. He formed a lethal new ball partnership with Brain Statham in the series. Tyson, in that series managed to take just 1 wicket conceding 160 in Brisbane in the first innings, but finished with 10 wickets in the second Test in Sydney, taking six wickets in the second innings to lead England to a 38 run win, after he had earlier been knocked out by a short ball from Ray Lindwall.
In 2013, in an interview, Tyson recounted the Sydney spell. “Ask some of the Australians and they’ll say my fastest spell was Sydney – the match where I was sconed by Ray Lindwall. I was pretty cranky about what had happened and I did bowl fast. But I wouldn’t say that it was the best I’d ever bowled.”
In the third Test, he rattled Australia with a figure 7 for 27 at MCG that helped England to win the match by 128 runs, a spell that Richie Benaud rated as the quickest he had ever seen.
Wisden reported: “The pitch was worn and the experts predicted that England must look to Appleyard, pointing out that the conditions were made for his off spin, and probably they were right, but Tyson and Statham saw England home without Hutton having to look elsewhere for any bowling
“Sheer speed through the air coupled with the chance of a shooter at any moment left the Australian batsmen nonplussed. Tyson blazed through them like a bush fire. In seventy-nine minutes the match was all over, the eight remaining wickets crashing for 36 runs.”
Tyson was born in Lancashire. He primarily wanted to play for them, but he broke down during his one 2nd XI match in 1949, and he subsequently had an eight-year career with Northamptonshire. He played 244 first-class matches in the year between 1952 and 1960 and took 767 wickets.
After his retirement, Tyson emigrated to Australia, where he became headmaster of a school for a time, before coaching Victoria. He also became a successful writer and commentator.