Cricket’s first Revolutionary

Frank Worrell’s Political War against West Indies Colonialism

It is well-known and globally accepted that Sir Frank Worrell was one of the greatest and most celebrated cricketers of all times–acknowledged as such not just within the cricket community but also endorsed by media commentators and academic chroniclers.

Beckles argues in this work, that Worrell’s identity has been narrowed, confined, and significantly diminished by too much of a focus on his charismatic character and many inspiring feats on the field to the neglect of some of his more enduring qualities. In the process, he elevates Worrell beyond being merely a phenomenally outstanding cricketer to that of apolitical revolutionary with an extraordinary intellect. More than any other anti-colonialist advocate from the West Indies, he successfully critiqued, challenged, and conquered the White supremacy, anti-democratic colonial order, and contributed enormously to the democratising post-war cricket culture that won popular support.

In analysing Worrell’s ten-year stand-off with the West Indies Cricket Board of Control between 1949 and 1959until he was finally and deservedly made captain, Beckles imbues Worrell with specific transformational social objectives and strategies that defined the man both on the field and in every aspect of his short life. He finally defeated the colonial cricket establishment, with the support of his English and Australian allies, and took control of West Indies cricket in 1960. It was an intense revolutionary struggle, which he masterminded and executed perfectly. From colonial Barbados, Worrell became a world leader beyond the boundary of cricket. It is the interdisciplinary narrative of Worrell’s lifelong struggle for social justice, racial equality, and mutual respect in the West Indies.

This book is thus, an intellectual and political history of Frank Worrell.

It breaks ranks with the literature and public narrative and presents his politics as agency within the cricket realm. He dismantled the colonial elite order of West Indies cricket and ushered an era of democracy and grassroots liberation. No other democratic leader in the West Indies achieved this phenomenal reputation. He revolutionised West Indies cricket before the West Indies became democracies.