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THE YEAR is 1963. The West Indies have just completed a tour of England where they defeated their opponents 3-1 in a five-Test series, led by the experienced Sir Frank Worrell. Desiring silence away from the team’s celebratory mood, Worrell decided to lie on the floor in the dressing room to unwind, knowing that back home, he was the centre of a tumultuous political atmosphere.
Fascinated by the impact of Worrell, both as a cricketer and politician, Sir Hilary Beckles, vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), felt inspired to tell Worrell’s story in his new book, Cricket’s First Revolutionary: Frank Worrell’s Political War Against Colonialism in the West Indies.
Worrell is a name synonymous with both West Indies cricket and politics in the Caribbean region, Beckles said at a press conference yesterday at Sabina Park to launch his book.
“He was a phenomenal human being. He was a phenomenal political strategist, and he was a phenomenal nation builder,” Beckles said.
Worrell’s story began in Barbados, where he was born on August 1, 1924, where he fell in love with cricket, like many others in the Caribbean region.
Rising through the ranks, Worrell would become a hero in the West Indies squad, forming one-third of the famous Three W’s, which included Sir Clyde Walcott and Sir Everton Weekes.
Political impact
Worrell’s impact was not just on the pitch but extended to the political sphere as he continued to break barriers and challenged the status quo.
He was the first black man to captain the West Indies team, facing strong opposition to break the colour barrier.
In an interview with journalist Ian Wooldridge, Worrell addressed the difficulties he faced in the Caribbean as a black man who had been selected to lead the West Indies for the 1963 England Tour.
“You may be surprised to know that there were plenty of people back home who were praying that we would fail. Even now, there are some just waiting for me to bow out,” the West Indies captain said.
“Well, I’m going. But things will never go back to where they were.”
The England Tour would prove one of the most pivotal in Worrell’s illustrious career as heading into the series, he faced several calls for him to retire.
Aged 39 at the time, many had believed that the captain was too old to lead the team and felt it was time for him to pass on the mantle.
“There was a campaign that Frank should retire. Having come back from Australia in that titan series, he came back home a hero, and everyone said, ‘You’re a great captain, but it’s time to retire.’”
The series would be the last of his career as the cricketer retired from the sport. But his impact in the region continued as he moved into the political field.
Worrell was appointed to the Jamaican senate by Sir Alexander Bustamante and championed the cause of further unity among Caribbean nations.
Beckles explained in his book that he presented Worrell’s political ideology, which was fuelled by an anti-colonial ferver. Worrell, Beckles said, held a firm belief in equality for all people regardless of race or background.
Vision for the future
Beckles said Worrell’s vision for the future of the Caribbean region went hand in glove with his vision for the future of West Indies, a team built on unity, free from racism, classism, and discrimination.
“Frank had proven himself. Let democracy prevail. Select on justice. Select on talent. Select on character,” Beckles said.
“The thesis is that Frank Worrell was the first man in the history of the West Indies who fought against the rich and the famous, took the leadership of cricket at the grass roots, proved that the grass roots can champion talent and showed that it was not reversible.”
He continued: “He proved that from here on in, we are going to look for the best cricketers, no matter where you come from. He had overthrown the elite, put democracy in place, and they could not reverse that.”
Worrell died in 1967, age 42, from leukaemia. He was given a state funeral in Barbados, which Beckles attended with his grandmother.
A memorial service was also held in his honour at Westminster Abbey in London, making him the first sportsman to receive the honour.
His legacy continues to live on with the Frank Worrell Trophy, which is presented to the winner of the Test series between England and the West Indies.
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