How we could do with Frank Tyson now as England struggle against the Aussies in the Adelaide Test at Adelaide – and the previous ones too. Probably not the best day to publish this article – the day we lost The Ashes

In that one series in 1954 in Australia Frank Tyson produced astonishing performances with bowling at speeds not seen before or since

Don Bradman and Richie Benaud who between them watched virtually every bowler from before the War up to modern times, when they were asked ‘ Who is the fastest bowler you ever saw ?’ – without hesitation they each replied ‘Frank Tyson’

This might seem to have nothing to do with films of the 50’s era – but is does. A film was made at the time called ‘Typhoon Tyson’s Test Match’ which is detailed on imd

JM Kilburn, famed correspondent of the Yorkshire Post, on Tyson. “His best pace was nothing short of startling to batsmen and spectators alike. He represented an elemental force obscuring the details of his technique and the highest tribute he received was the gasp of incredulity frequently emitted by the crowd as the ball passed from his hand to the distant wicketkeeper.”

Don Bradman called him “the fastest bowler I have ever seen” while Tom Graveney recounts how he stood 40 yards back at slip

It was at Melbourne, during the third Test of the 54-55 series, that the name of “Typhoon”became legend when in the second innings his spell of six for 16 from 6.3 eight-ball overs, and seven for 27 in all, brought a win that had looked unlikely.

This short film re-lives some of those moments of a cricketer forgotten in the modern era – not by me !!