Frank Tyson dies in hospital, aged 85

England Test legend Frank ‘Typhoon’ Tyson has passed away on the Gold Coast, aged 85.

Tyson, whose career with England spanned 1954-59, took 76 wickets in 17 Tests at the remarkable average of 18.56.

A right-arm paceman who played 244 first-class matches during a decorated career with Northamptonshire, Tyson earned a reputation as one of the fastest bowlers in the history of the game – a standing endorsed by the late Richie Benaud, who claimed he was the quickest bowler he had ever seen.

The Englishman spent the latter part of his life in south-east Queensland, and died in hospital on the Gold Coast.

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Tyson was the hero of England’s successful 1954-55 Ashes campaign, taking 25 wickets across three Tests in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide to terrorise the Australians and propel the tourists to a 3-1 series win.

“We never thought the series was lost even after being beaten by an innings in the 1954-55 Brisbane Test,” Tyson recalled during an interview with Cricinfo in 2013.

“We went back to our hotel, Lennons, and Len (Hutton) called for champagne all round. ‘Don't worry’, he told us all, ‘we may have lost this Test match, but we're going to beat them. This is the first time I've ever been with an English side where we have the quicker bowlers’.

“He was convinced our best was to come, and it was.”

Like many fast bowlers, Tyson was a regular victim of injury throughout his career, and they eventually took their toll to the point that he was retired from the first-class arena by the age of 30. 

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland paid tribute to the England legend, who also contributed heavily to Australian cricket after his playing days. 

“Frank ‘Typhoon’ Tyson will forever be remembered as a great of English cricket,” Sutherland said. “Throughout his career he struck fear into the hearts of batsmen around the globe. But once his playing days were over he chose to settle here in Australia, the country where he had become a household name.

“Over many years he became a much-loved and greatly admired member of the Australian cricket community where he coached and mentored countless players in Victoria and Queensland.

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

“Cricket Australia mourns his loss and extends its deepest sympathies to his wife Ursula, family and friends at this sad time.”

Tyson emigrated to Australia and became a school teacher at Melbourne’s Carey Baptist Grammar School where he taught English, French, History and mentored a school cricket team that featured future Australian captain Graham Yallop. He also worked at Ivanhoe Grammar. He continued to play at club level, turning out as captain-coach for Melbourne University and also representing Footscray.

In 1975 he became the first-ever full-time Victorian Coaching Director, a position he held for 12 years. Among Tyson's many achievements as a coach were Victoria's back-to-back Sheffield Shield triumphs in 1978-79 and 1979-80.

Upon his retirement in 1987, Tyson was awarded Cricket Victoria Life Membership in recognition of his successful efforts in pioneering a 'coaching the coaches' development program.

He was a cricket writer for the London Observer, Daily Telegraph, Melbourne Age, and contributed to the Cricketer International magazine. He also wrote a number of his own books.

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.

He and wife Ursula retired to the Gold Coast in Queensland where their children lived. He continued to coach and stay involved in cricket for several years with the Gold Coast Dolphins Premier cricket club and local district clubs, as well as assisting Queensland Cricket in specialist programs into the early 2000s.