Former Australian Fast Bowler Frank Mason Has Passed Away

Former Australia and New South Wales fast bowler Frank Mason died at age 85.

Frank Mason

According to Cricinfo, Musson played five Tests in the famous 1960-61 home series against the West Indies and the 1961 Ashes tour of England, but injuries ended his Test career. He took 16 wickets at 38.50, including a career-best 4 for 58 against the West Indies in Melbourne.

He played 71 first-class matches, mostly for New South Wales, and took 177 first-class wickets at 31.13 in a short career spanning 1958 to 1964.

Masson was an outstanding athlete in his youth, having trained with renowned Australian athletics middle-distance coach Percy Cerotti, who famously coached Australia's Herb Elliott to Olympic gold and the world record in the 1500m in Rome in 1960. of

Musson parlayed this fitness and athletics background into his cricket career, bursting onto the scene as a 20-year-old for NSW on his Sheffield Shield debut in the final match of the 1958–59 season. At the end of the 1959–60 Shield season, Masson was selected in Australia's second XI to tour New Zealand and took 17 wickets at 12.47.

The following summer he made his Test debut against the West Indies in the second Test in Melbourne which followed the famous Test tie in Brisbane.

Masson played two more Tests in the five-match series before being selected for the 1961 Ashes tour. Masson played the first two Tests of the Ashes series, but injuries hampered him for the rest of the tour and he missed the second. Did not play a test match.

Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon paid tribute to Masson on his death.

"We extend our deepest condolences to Frank's family and friends, especially those who played with him as part of the NSW Men's and Australian Men's teams," Germon said. "

“Frank's career was cut short by injury, which was ironic given the focus on health, diet, and fitness in an era where sports science was not very prevalent.

"His five Test caps are a testament to his talent and determination and there is no doubt that he would have played many times for his state and country had it not been for this injury."

Mason's approach to cricket fitness would have a lasting legacy on Australian cricket as his son David Mason became the fitness advisor to the Australian men's team between 1998 and 2000 and Cricket New South Wales in the early 2000s.