Frank King

Frank King was a fearsome fast bowler from Barbados, who was picked to lead the pace attack on India's tour of the West Indies in early 1953. In the third Test, his bouncer broke two bones in the left hand of Ebrahim Maka, India's wicketkeeper, but by then, having faced King in two Tests, the Indians knew they were up against a man to be taken seriously.

He had made his first-class debut in January 1948, and had played ten games at that level before being picked for the first Test of that series against India - he was already 26 at the time. The first two Tests were uneventful from King's point of view - and accounts say he bowled far too many bouncers, making the batters expect them and deal with them without much worry. But come the third Test in Port of Spain, King had hit his stride, and took out most of the India middle order, as well as Maka for the series, on his way to 5 for 74. He ended the series, played mostly on surfaces that were better for spinners, with 17 wickets from five Tests, third on the chart behind Alf Valentine's 28 and Subhash Gupte's 27.

It was good enough for him to stay in the XI for the series against England at home in early 1954, where he picked up eight wickets in three Tests, and, again at home, for Australia's tour the following season, when he played four Tests but picked up only three wickets. He did travel to New Zealand in early 1956, but had just one wicket to show from two Tests, and was reportedly suffering from muscle injuries.

He played just a couple of first-class matches for Barbados after that tour of New Zealand before shifting to England and playing in the Birmingham league.