HE was described as an enigma, a complex man, a cricket legend, a mentor to many generations and a man of grace – the son of Grace.
Sir Frank Worrell will go down in West Indies and world cricket as one of the greatest figures to ever don the all whites and cross the boundary lines, while he was also the first black man to captain the Caribbean team in a full Test series. However, his contribution to the game of cricket goes well beyond the boundary, and it was only fitting for former journalist and cricket historian Vaneisa Baksh, to pen a 326-page biography in Worrell's honour.
Titled Son of Grace, Baksh's biography, which was dedicated to Prof Arnold Rampersad and Jackie Hinkson, gives insight into the upbringing and circumstances which would have shaped the character of the man who led the Caribbean team in a jaw-dropping tied Test match against Australia at the historic Gabba, Brisbane, in December 1960 – one of only two tied Test matches in cricket history. The spectacular Test finish led to the creation of the Frank Worrell Trophy, which is awarded to the winner of Test series between West Indies and Australia.
On April 23, six months after publishing the biography, Baksh poetically launched the book on World Book Day in the cozy and intimate settings at the Dalai Llama Pub, One Woodbrook Place. to pay homage to one of the regional game's true icons.
Born on August 1, 1924 in St Michael, Barbados, Worrell died at 42 as he succumbed to leukaemia. His impact was felt tremendously, and his passing sent shock waves throughout the cricket world for many people who had grown accustomed to his poise and the diplomacy he displayed both on and off the field.
In 1964, Worrell received knighthood for his contributions to cricket, mere months after playing his last Test match in August 1963 at 39. After his death in March 1967, a memorial was held in his honour at Westminster Abbey in the United Kingdom.
[caption id="attachment_1080133" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Vaneisa Baksh presents a token of appreciation to Bryan Davis, former Test cricketer and Newsday columnist, who reminisced about Frank Worrell at the launch of her biography of Worrell. -[/caption]
Described as a unifying influence in the Caribbean, Worrell was inducted into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame in 2009.
At the launch, Baksh, Professor Emerita Bridget Brereton and former West Indies cricketer Bryan Davis all spoke about the tremendous impact Worrell made in his "all too brief life."
"(Son of Grace) was about the man, rather than the great cricketer and Test captain. Although naturally, there was plenty of cricket in the book," Brereton said, during last Tuesday's launch, which was graced with the presence of former West Indies skipper Sir Clive Lloyd, who famously led the Caribbean team to World Cup wins in 1975 and 1979.
Though described as a very private man, Worrell's passion, thoughtfulness and thorough approach made him a standout figure among his peers and a revolutionary leader of men in a time when ra
