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Neville Cardus on Sir Frank Worrell
Five-page manuscript obituary in Cardus's hand written in biro on recto of 5 leaves with occasional corrections, headed "Frank Worrell by Neville Cardus," expressing great sadness at Worrell's death in 1967, aged only 42, and giving a vivid account of his unique genius, even in comparison with other West Indian greats such as Weekes, Walcott and Sobers. "His cricket. in fact, expressed the man himself, engaging, compassionate, lithe, effortless. I have to think as far back as R.H. Spooner to recall his like in point of wristwork ...." In Cardus's view, "It can safely be said that Worrell was seldom subjected to any bowler. At his best, he gave us the impression that he could hypnotically, but in the most friendly way, draw the ball to his bat's middle." A further comparison is with A.C. Maclaren who, "when he hooked, 'dismissed' the ball from his presence. Worrell was not so arrogantly magisterial; he waved the ball away ...." Cardus recalls particular matches, the latest in 1963 "his best days over as a player," he also mentions Worrell's broad interests outside cricket and ends with a tribute to his calm and generous spirit.
Published in The Guardian on Worrell's death, reprinted in A Fourth Innings with Cardus (1981).
Five-page manuscript obituary in Cardus's hand written in biro on recto of 5 leaves with occasional corrections, headed "Frank Worrell by Neville Cardus," expressing great sadness at Worrell's death in 1967, aged only 42, and giving a vivid account of his unique genius, even in comparison with other West Indian greats such as Weekes, Walcott and Sobers. "His cricket. in fact, expressed the man himself, engaging, compassionate, lithe, effortless. I have to think as far back as R.H. Spooner to recall his like in point of wristwork ...." In Cardus's view, "It can safely be said that Worrell was seldom subjected to any bowler. At his best, he gave us the impression that he could hypnotically, but in the most friendly way, draw the ball to his bat's middle." A further comparison is with A.C. Maclaren who, "when he hooked, 'dismissed' the ball from his presence. Worrell was not so arrogantly magisterial; he waved the ball away ...." Cardus recalls particular matches, the latest in 1963 "his best days over as a player," he also mentions Worrell's broad interests outside cricket and ends with a tribute to his calm and generous spirit.
Published in The Guardian on Worrell's death, reprinted in A Fourth Innings with Cardus (1981).
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