Bill Frindall
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Howard Frindall | |
| Born |
3 March 1939 Epsom, Surrey, England |
|
| Died | 29 January 2009 (aged 69) England |
|
| Nickname | The Bearded Wonder, Bearders | |
| Batting style | Right-handed batsman | |
| Bowling style | Right arm medium | |
| Role | Scorer, statistician, author | |
| Domestic team information | ||
| Years | Team | |
| 1972 | Marylebone Cricket Club | |
| Career statistics | ||
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| Source: CricketArchive, 29 January 2009 | ||
William Howard "Bill" Frindall, MBE (3 March 1939 – 29 January 2009) was an English cricket scorer and statistician. He was familiar to cricket followers as a member of the Test Match Special commentary team on BBC radio. Nicknamed the Bearded Wonder (shortened to Bearders) by Brian Johnston for his ability to research the most obscure cricketing facts in moments, while continuing to keep perfect scorecards and because he had a beard.Angus Fraser described Frindall as "the doyen of cricket scorers" in his obituary in The Independent.
Frindall was born in Epsom, Surrey and named after Victorian journalist William Howard Russell. His father was a laboratory assistant and later a research chemist. He was educated at Tadworth county primary school and Reigate Grammar School and studied architecture at the Kingston School of Art.
A schoolmaster introduced Frindall to cricket scoring one rainy sports afternoon when he was a boy. After joining the RAF as a National Serviceman in 1958 (he called it "training in advanced shirking"), and rising to the rank of corporal, he was commissioned as an accountant officer in the secretarial branch in November 1963. Two of his six years' service were spent at NATO headquarters at Fontainebleau, outside Paris, and on leaving the RAF in 1965 he developed his handlebar moustache into a full beard.
Frindall was an enthusiastic cricketer from his early years and played cricket for the RAF. He later played one match for the Hampshire Second XI in 1972. He played against Gloucestershire's Second XI, bowling six wicketless overs for 22 runs, and scoring one run in the second innings before he was caught and bowled. He continued as an effective fast bowler in club cricket for many years, particularly in charity matches, although his batting was somewhat agricultural. He ran a touring team, the Malta Maniacs, and also played for the Elvinos and the Lord's Taverners.
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