Former England fast bowler Frank ‘Typhoon’ Tyson dies, aged 85

The Typhoon has passed.

Frank “Typhoon” Tyson has passed away in a hospital on Australia’s Gold Coast.

“Martin Williamson wrote on Cricinfo, In terms of raw, unbridled pace, few bowlers in history can match England’s Frank Tyson…This was no brainless quickie, however – Tyson was a Durham University graduate, and had a penchant for quoting Shakespeare or Wordsworth to batsmen”. He was 85.

Tyson played 17 Test matches between 1954 and 1959, taking 76 wickets at an average of 18.56, the 11th lowest in England history.

Tyson’s role in claiming victory for England in the 1954-55 Ashes series in Australia was the high point of his short but bright career.

Australian captain, allrounder and former fellow Nine commentator, the late Richie Benaud, rated Tyson the quickest bowler he had seen. He shipped 160 runs for just one wicket as England lost the opening Test in Brisbane but then made a decision to shorten his run-up, with devastating results. It had an instant effect.

During that tour, Tyson produced a sensational spell of bowling in Melbourne, taking 7-27 in the second innings when he had Australia batsmen diving out of the way of his deliveries.

His action took a toll on his body. It was doubtless more unsettling.

Tyson was also a respected cricket commentator on Australian radio for 36 years and for Channel Nine between 1979 and 1986, and later in life became an accomplished amateur painter.

Tyson also spent time coaching Victoria’s state team before retiring to the Gold Coast, where he died after a long battle with illness.

“He also made a wonderful contribution to the coverage of the game in Australia as a broadcaster and cricket writer”.