The content on this webpage contains paid/affiliate links. When you click on any of our affiliate link, we/I may get a small compensation at no cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for more info -----------------------
Last updated on August 9th, 2017 at 03:01 pm
The great Yorkshire and England fast bowler Fred Trueman has died at 75. He’d been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year.
Trueman—the first player to claim 300 Test wickets—and scholarly fast-bowling partner Frank Tyson crushed Australia in the Ashes series of 1954/5. He was one of cricket’s most beloved figures.
CORRECTION. As Tim Curtin points out: “It was Statham not Trueman who partnered Tyson on the 54/55 tour.” Which is just as well, because the result would have been even worse than a 3-1 defeat. Trueman was a member of the 58/9 touring team.
- Whew. I always feared the old bugger would make a comeback.Posted by Stop Continental Drift! on 2006 07 01 at 03:29 PM • permalink
- At the age of 75, Trueman set a further rcord by having lived long enough to play in three complete games of cricket…Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 07 01 at 04:51 PM • permalink
- RIP fiery Freddy!
He was a bit unlucky that English cricket was just recovering for most of his career and apart from 54/55 he had to do it tough against some fine Australian batsmen.
But he was lucky to get out of the game before the West Indians became a force so he never had to be compared head to head with Marshall, Holding, Roberts and others.
- I appreciated all these comments about our Fred, but it was Statham not Trueman who partnered Tyson on the 54/55 tour; Fred had allegedly misbehaved on the West Indies tour the previous year and when he did get to Australia in 58/59 he was not quite the force he had been, and only played in 3 of the Tests, though he still had some great days left at home as in 1961.Posted by Tim Curtin on 2006 07 01 at 09:30 PM • permalink
- slatts – yes it was, but I think story goes that he turned to the umpire and said, “Well that must be f*cking close”.
As a kid (still dates me though), I saw Trueman bowl in the Adelaide oval tests in 1959 and 1961. Colin MacDonald made a big ton in the first and Havey, O’Neill and Barrington in the second. I still have the score cards I scored them on. Tyson played in the first and I think Ray Lindwall achieved the Australian record for wickets in that one as well. Then 230 odd.
Statham was a very accurate bowler and Trueman was the opposite. Hair flopping everywhere as he ran in, sprayed most of them all over the place and then bowled the unplayable ball.
A real character, lots of banter with the crowd when fielding. As said above, RIP fiery Fred.
Posted by Whale Spinor on 2006 07 01 at 11:30 PM • permalink
- Havey? That would be Harvey – sorry NeilPosted by Whale Spinor on 2006 07 01 at 11:32 PM • permalink
- What a cracking player. His catchphrase was “I just don’t know what’s going to come out of there”. However, he must have known something, as he took 307 wickets at a miserly 21.57 with a wicket every 49 balls.
Check out some classic quotes and stories from Fred, Portrait of a Fast Bowler.
Posted by Jack Lacton on 2006 07 02 at 12:11 AM • permalink
- Fred Trueman, fielding close to the player’s gate at the SCG, observed the incoming Aussie batsman closing the gate behind him as he stepped onto the field.
“Don’t bother shutting the gate, son, you won’t be out there long!”Anyone who saw Fiery Freddy bowl will remember his unruly black hair flopping all over the place, and his wildly unpredicable line and length, not seen again until Jeff Thompson’s time.
Vale, Fred.
Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2006 07 02 at 02:20 AM • permalink
- On Statham and Trueman, the Sunday Times reports that `In fact Trueman did receive an OBE from Margaret Thatcher in 1989 for charity work, which included raising £60,000 for Statham who had suffered ill- health and fallen on hard times.’
I think Trueman used to describe himself as a gin-and-tonic man rather than a beer-drinker, but may he enjoy whatever ambrosia comes his way.
- I know Fred Trueman was a good to great cricketer, but why on earth would the Toronto based Globe and Mailhave a large obit for him today?Posted by Stop Continental Drift! on 2006 07 04 at 10:25 AM • permalink
Page 1 of 1 pages
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
