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Frank Tyson

1930-

The Typhoon Of Middleton

There have been many memorable series throughout the Ashes long and glorious History. Botham’s Ashes in 81’, Lakers in 56’ and even the recent ‘Series of the Century’ in 2005. However, since the Second World War, England have only won the Ashes 4 times Down Under. Illingworth’s Men famously did it in 1970/71, Brearley’s in 78’/79’ against a Packer savaged Australians and Gatting in 86’/87’ when the Baggy Green were the worst side in the World.

Perhaps the greatest English Victory Down Under came with Len Hutton’s 1954/55 MCC side, which at the time was paraded for having an ‘Embarrassment of Riches’ in it’s bowling department. If you look at the players left at home you can easily see why: Trueman, Laker, Lock & Tattersall all failed to board the ship for the de-facto tour for all Englishmen.

Despite the hype, England were mauled against Australia in the first Test at Brisbane against a Australian side that included, Morris, Lindwall, Miller, Benaud, Harvey & Davidson. It didn’t help when Hutton famously asked the Dominion to bat - and scoring a massive 601 to win by an innings and 54 runs. The English were humiliated; laughed at as being full of talk with no fight or venom. The spearhead of the attack, Frank ’Typhoon’ Tyson, was greeted with the headline ‘Typhoon Blows Cold’ upon the arrival for the 2nd Test in Sydney. Spurred on by this, he famously cut his run and destroyed the Australians in the subsequent Tests, taking 4 for 45, 6 for 85 and 7 for 27 helping England to a 3-1 Series win, a first in Australia since the Bodyline series in 1932/33.

Ritchie Benaud later said “We just didn’t see it. He was, is and always will be the fastest ever bowler. It was the only time I ever felt scared playing the game - I just couldn’t pick it up”. Even Sir Donald Bradman, now writing for the Times of London, agreed saying Tyson was the fastest speedster ever to have played, even surpassing the great Ted MacDonald of Lancashire.

So there it was, arguably England’s greatest overseas adventure was primarily instigated by a lad who learnt his trade at Middleton, a lad who was rejected by Lancashire for being ‘unable to withstand a full season’ of Cricket at the highest level.  So he left, and was picked up by Northamptonshire for whom he applied his skills before prematurely calling an end to his career at the age of just 30. Ironically he emigrated to Australia, where he became a very successful coach of Victoria, Commentator and eventually head of the Australian Cricket Board. However, Frank Holmes Tyson shall always be remembered for that glorious winter of 1954/55 when he wrote himself forever into Ashes and English Cricketing folklore.