Frank Tyson facts for kids
Tyson in 1954
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| Full name |
Frank Holmes Tyson
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| Born | 6 June 1930 Farnworth, Lancashire, England |
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| Died | 27 September 2015 (aged 85) Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |
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| Nickname | Typhoon Tyson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm fast | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| National side | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut (cap 377) | 12 August 1954 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 18 March 1959 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1952–1960 | Northamptonshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricInfo, 26 April 2009
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Frank Holmes Tyson (born June 6, 1930 – died September 27, 2015) was an amazing England cricketer from the 1950s. People called him "Typhoon Tyson" because he was one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket. He took 76 wickets in 17 Test matches, which are the highest level of international cricket.
After his cricket career, Frank Tyson moved to Australia in 1960. He worked as a school teacher, a journalist, a cricket coach, and even a cricket commentator. In 2007, he was named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for 1955. This was because of his incredible performance in Australia during the 1954–55 tour. His 28 wickets helped England keep The Ashes, a famous cricket trophy. He also coached the Victoria team to two big wins and later coached the Sri Lankan national cricket team.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Frank Tyson grew up playing cricket with his older brother, David. He even practiced his bowling run-up on the balcony at home! He went to Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School and later studied English literature at Durham University.
Being a university graduate was unusual for professional cricketers back in the 1950s. Frank was also a qualified teacher. He loved reading books by famous writers like Geoffrey Chaucer and Virginia Woolf. Instead of trying to upset batsmen with words, he sometimes quoted poetry!
Before becoming a professional cricketer, he completed his National Service in the Royal Corps of Signals in 1952. He played cricket for the Army team. He also worked felling trees, which helped him build strong muscles for fast bowling.
Starting His Cricket Journey (1952–1954)
Frank Tyson first played for local clubs and university teams. He tried out for Lancashire, but they didn't pick him. So, he joined Northamptonshire in 1952.
He made his first-class debut against the Indian team in 1952. His very first wicket was a famous batsman named Pankaj Roy. In 1953, he played against the Australians. They thought he was just a new bowler, but they were surprised by his speed! He bowled so fast that he knocked over a batsman's stumps, sending them flying.
In 1954, Frank Tyson was picked to play for England against Pakistan. He showed his speed and skill, taking 4 wickets in the first innings. His powerful bowling even caused an injury to a famous batsman, Bill Edrich, which convinced the cricket officials to take him on the important tour to Australia.
The Famous Tour of Australia and New Zealand (1954–55)
Frank Tyson was chosen for the big tour to Australia in 1954–55. This was a huge chance for him to show his talent.
First Test in Brisbane
In the first match against Australia, England had a tough time. Australia scored a lot of runs. Even though England lost, Tyson's bowling was very fast. He hit some Australian batsmen with the ball, leaving them bruised.
Second Test in Sydney
Before this match, Tyson got advice from his old coach. He changed his bowling run-up to be shorter and more powerful. This made a huge difference! He took 4 wickets in the first innings.
Players didn't wear helmets back then. One Australian batsman, Neil Harvey, was hit on the head by Tyson's super-fast ball. He had to go to the hospital but came back to play. Tyson then bowled incredibly fast, taking 6 wickets in the second innings. England won the match, and the Australian captain said Tyson's bowling deserved the win. This is when he started to get the nickname "Dingers."
Third Test in Melbourne
This match really cemented his "Typhoon" nickname. On the last day, Australia needed 240 runs to win. Over 50,000 fans came to watch, expecting a close finish. But Frank Tyson bowled one of the fastest and most frightening spells ever seen in Australia.
He took 6 wickets for only 16 runs in a short time! His total of 7 wickets for 27 runs in that innings was his best ever in Test cricket. Australia was bowled out for just 111 runs, and England won easily. The game finished so quickly that the food sellers were left with thousands of unsold pies!
Winning The Ashes in Adelaide
The fourth match in Adelaide decided who would win The Ashes. England's captain, Len Hutton, cleverly used Tyson's speed along with other bowlers. Tyson took 3 wickets in each innings. Australia was bowled out for 111 runs in their second innings, and England won the match and the series 3–1. It was the first time England had won a series in Australia since 1932–33.
Final Test in Sydney and New Zealand Tour
Even though rain stopped play for three days, England almost won the last match too. Tyson took 28 wickets in the series, showing how important he was. He was later named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1956. After Australia, England toured New Zealand. Tyson continued his amazing form, helping England win both Test matches easily. In one match, New Zealand was bowled out for just 26 runs, the lowest score ever in Test cricket!
Later Cricket Career (1955–1959)
When Frank Tyson returned to England, he was a hero. He continued to bowl incredibly fast. In a match against South Africa, he took 6 wickets for only 28 runs, helping England win.
However, injuries started to affect his career. A badly blistered heel, caused by ill-fitting boots, kept him out of many games. His place in the England team was sometimes taken by his rival, Fred Trueman. Tyson played his last Test match in New Zealand in 1959.
His Unique Bowling Style
Frank Tyson's bowling was known for its incredible speed. He used a long run-up, starting far from the wicket. He would then leap and deliver the ball with a powerful arm action. His delivery was so fierce that it looked like every muscle in his body was working.
He didn't try to make the ball swing much. Instead, he relied on his sheer pace to get batsmen out. The ball would come onto the bat so fast that batsmen often couldn't react in time. He also used bouncers (balls that bounce high) to intimidate batsmen. Tyson believed a bouncer should "pin the batsman against the sightscreen."
His powerful bowling style took a toll on his body. He suffered many injuries, which unfortunately cut his career short. Even later in life, he had operations on his arm and knees because of the strain from his bowling.
The "Typhoon" Nickname
Frank Tyson's incredible speed earned him the nickname "Typhoon Tyson." Many famous cricketers, like Don Bradman and Richie Benaud, said he was the fastest bowler they had ever seen.
One time, his teammate Jock Livingston said that when Tyson was at his best, he was the quickest bowler over a few overs. Livingston had seen other legendary fast bowlers, so that was a big compliment!
There were even attempts to measure his speed. In New Zealand in 1955, a device measured his bowling at 89 miles per hour. But he was wearing extra clothes and didn't use his full run-up, so he was likely much faster in matches. He even claimed he could bowl at 119 mph, though this can't be proven. What's clear is that he was noticeably faster than other top bowlers of his time.
The famous umpire Dickie Bird once said Tyson was the quickest bowler he had ever seen, and sometimes "the quickest bowler I never saw through the air" because the ball was so fast! Dickie Bird even got hit on the chin by one of Tyson's bouncers, leaving him with a scar.
Life After Cricket
Frank Tyson met his wife, Ursula Miels, in Australia during his famous 1954–55 tour. They got married in Melbourne in 1957 and had three children and eight grandchildren.
In 1960, he retired from first-class cricket and moved to Australia. He became a school teacher, teaching English, French, and History. He also continued to be involved in cricket as a coach. He coached the Victorian Cricket Association team to two big wins and helped set up a national coaching program in Australia. He even coached the Sri Lankan national cricket team for the World Cup.
Frank Tyson also became a successful cricket journalist, writing for several newspapers and magazines. He was a popular cricket commentator on Australian radio for 26 years and on TV for Channel Nine. He often worked with another famous cricketer, Tony Greig.
In his later years, Frank Tyson enjoyed living on the Gold Coast in Australia. He stayed active by going to the gym and swimming. He also enjoyed painting pictures of cricketers and cricket grounds.
Light Entertainment
Frank Tyson's fame even reached the world of entertainment!
Calypso Song
The calypso singer Lord Kitchener released a song called "The Ashes (Australia vs MCC 1955)." The song praised Tyson's amazing contributions to England's victory in that series.
Hancock's Half Hour
In 1956, Frank Tyson appeared on a radio show called Hancock's Half Hour. He was on an episode about a cricket match with other famous cricketers and the show's stars.
Images for kids
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Tyson in 1954
