Wonder cricket statistician Bill Frindall of BBC fame is dead
By Qaiser Mohammad Ali
New Delhi: Well-known cricket statistician-scorer Bill Frindall, who kept scores in India’s successful campaign at the 1983 World Cup, passed away in England on Friday, January 30. He was 69 -- 43 of which he spent with the BBC Test Match Special commentary team. Also known as 'Bearders' and the 'Bearded Wonder', Frindall was suffering from Legionnaire's disease, according to BBC Sport.
I happened to exchange a few e-mail messages with Frindall when I needed some authoritative source to put a final seal of approval on a statistic or incident. He always replied promptly. We, however, never met. I missed him when he visited New Delhi in early 1990s.
The last time I wrote to him was on June 14, 2008, when I was doing a piece on the 25th anniversary of India’s historic and unforgettable World Cup triumph. And the same day he replied to my queries on the 1983 World Cup.
“I scored only two of India's 1983 WC matches -- the semi-final and final,” was part of Frindall’s reply. “In the semi-final, (Graeme) Fowler and (Allan) Lamb scored threes (runs). No Indian scored a three in the final,” was the more pertinent part.
He finished the mail with:
“As ever,
Bill Frindall”
Frindall joined the BBC in 1966 and wrote several statistical books, edited the Playfair annual since 1986, and was appointed an MBE in 2004 for his services to the game.
The England and Wales Cricket Board mourned his death. Said Hugh Morris, ECB Managing Director (England Cricket): “Bill Frindall was renowned for the sheer breadth of his knowledge and the deep and lasting affection he had for the game of cricket itself. He will be much missed not only by millions of radio listeners worldwide but also by the fraternity of cricketing scorers in England and Wales whose work he did so much to champion. On behalf of the many past and present England players who considered him a good friend, I would like to send our condolences to his family.”
By Qaiser Mohammad Ali
New Delhi: Well-known cricket statistician-scorer Bill Frindall, who kept scores in India’s successful campaign at the 1983 World Cup, passed away in England on Friday, January 30. He was 69 -- 43 of which he spent with the BBC Test Match Special commentary team. Also known as 'Bearders' and the 'Bearded Wonder', Frindall was suffering from Legionnaire's disease, according to BBC Sport.
I happened to exchange a few e-mail messages with Frindall when I needed some authoritative source to put a final seal of approval on a statistic or incident. He always replied promptly. We, however, never met. I missed him when he visited New Delhi in early 1990s.
The last time I wrote to him was on June 14, 2008, when I was doing a piece on the 25th anniversary of India’s historic and unforgettable World Cup triumph. And the same day he replied to my queries on the 1983 World Cup.
“I scored only two of India's 1983 WC matches -- the semi-final and final,” was part of Frindall’s reply. “In the semi-final, (Graeme) Fowler and (Allan) Lamb scored threes (runs). No Indian scored a three in the final,” was the more pertinent part.
He finished the mail with:
“As ever,
Bill Frindall”
Frindall joined the BBC in 1966 and wrote several statistical books, edited the Playfair annual since 1986, and was appointed an MBE in 2004 for his services to the game.
The England and Wales Cricket Board mourned his death. Said Hugh Morris, ECB Managing Director (England Cricket): “Bill Frindall was renowned for the sheer breadth of his knowledge and the deep and lasting affection he had for the game of cricket itself. He will be much missed not only by millions of radio listeners worldwide but also by the fraternity of cricketing scorers in England and Wales whose work he did so much to champion. On behalf of the many past and present England players who considered him a good friend, I would like to send our condolences to his family.”
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