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Time to honour the Typhoon?

Jamie Whitehouse
1/ 5/2008

WITH the start of the cricket season upon us and with all this talk of immortalising Middleton’s favourite son ‘in stone’ we’ve decided to delve into the archives and take a closer look at one of the contenders.

Apart from maybe the odd flying visit it is believed to be 20 years since Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson last blew into town and was photographed on his old stomping ground. But for those of a certain age he is on a par with the town's current sporting icon, Paul Scholes.

For those of you not familiar with Frank Holmes Tyson, to give him his full name, he is quite simply the man cricketing legends Don Bradman and Richie Benaud said was the fastest bowler they ever saw - hence his nickname.

Born in 1930 he spent his early years at Valley Road, Boarshaw and was schooled at Elm Street School.

It was when the man who was one day to rip through the best the Australians batsmen could offer moved to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School – a breeding ground for some of the town’s most famous luminaries over the years –that he sprung to attention.

It is said he was a nightmare for opposing batsmen who couldn't handle his raw pace.

In the summer of 1947 as a 16-year-old he came to the attention of Lancashire but famously he was rejected ‘because he dipped at the knee’. It has long been considered one of the county’s biggest blunders.

However, the blunder by the Red Rose coaching staff was Middleton Cricket Club's gain, where he had played with the second eleven since his school days.

He spearheaded the Towncroft's side attack before he turned professional in 1950 while he was studying for an arts degree at Durham university to eventually become a teacher.

It was the year 1955, when Frank was at Northants, that he shot to international fame during the Ashes series.

On January 8 playing in the third test in Melbourne the Typhoon was almost unplayable as he recorded a career-best 7-27 in the second innings.

A guardian report of the time said his name was being echoed 'throughout Britain, Australia and many other cricket loving countries'

Prior to a council meeting Middleton's Mayor of the time, Councillor William Wellens even proposed a subscription for ‘This great Tyson’, as he called him should be set up at the cash given to him on his return.

Cllr Wellens said: "This, you will agree, is a wonderful achievement and, on behalf of the people of Middleton, I have already sent him a cable conveying our best wishes and congratulations."

His feats at the crease saw him named by the sport's bible Wisden as a Cricketer of the Year in 1956.

But Frank suffered from injury throughout his career, as early as 1948 he had suffered from a serious back injury.

While today it is the norm for cricketers to play well into their 30s he played his last first-class cricket when aged only 30.In total he played 17 test matches for England, taking 76 wickets at an outstanding bowling average of 18.56.

Soon after hanging up his pads for the last time he emigrated to Australia where he became a headmaster for a time, before coaching the game he loved. Frank, who will be 78 in 6 June, also commentated and was a successful writer of coaching manuals.

n What’s your view? Comment online at www.middletonguardian.co.uk or write to Readers Letters, Middleton Guardian, 24A Fountain Street, Middleton, M24 1AH.