Cricket 1888

“ Together joined in cricket’s m an ly toil.”— Byron . RegisteredfOT^ranSuasion^Abroad. TIlURSDAY, JULY 12, 1888. P R ID E 2d. F R A N K H O W E SU G G . T he cricket career of the Lancashire pro­ fessional who has been selected to represent the Players against the G-entlemen for the first time at the Oval to-day, is unique. No other cricketer of the present day taking part regularly in important matohes can claim to have done duty for three different shires in turn. The names of those who have been able to boast this triple certificate at any time are few in number, and could, in fact, be counted on one’s fingers. Sugg’s record, though, is, perhaps, the most peculiar of all, for in the short space of five years he has figured in the Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire elevens in succession. Born at Ilkeston, in Derbyshire, on Jan. 11, 1862, when he was four years old his father, a solicitor, removed to Sheffield, so that the vounger Sugg’ s connection with Yorkshire dates from an early age. His first opportunity of showing his ability as a youngster was as one of the leading players of a Church Club at Pitsmoor, one of the most prominent junior clubs of Sheffield. His promise as an all­ round cricketer was, even then, ex­ ceptional. The excellent form he had shown in local cricket by the time he was seventeen had already gaine for him a reputation as a young player of above the average order. Evidence of the general estimate of his ability at the time can be found in his selection by Mr. W. A. Gilbert in 1880to play for one of the Fngland Elevens under his management against Twenty-two of Matlock and District. This was his baptism of fire in a match of any importance, and from it practically dates the commencement of his career as a cricketer. The summer of 1882 saw him under engagement to the Hii'l Town Club, and though he v as actually engaged as a wicket-keej tr he was also genen- lly very success,ul as a rungetter, having an average of over thirty runs for the season. During 1881 and 1882 his cricket must have shown a material development, for he had impressed the executive of the Yorkshire County Club suffi­ ciently to lead to his nomination to represent the Colts of the North against the Colts of the South in the opening fixture of the Maryle- fcone programme of 1883. He was chosen, too, as one of the Yorkshire eleven in all the earlier fixtures, but, though he took part in eight matches, the slow wickets did not improve his chances, and his twelve innings only realised an aggregate of eighty runs. His ill success, too, for the oounty was the more remarkable, as in minor matches he scored heavily. For Durham against Scarborough, he was credited with a brilliant innings of 191, and he rarely failed to leave a heavy mark, as his aggregate for the season, which showed over two thou­ sand runs in Club matches, will testify. An offer from the committee of the Derbyshire County Club to play him in all their matches of 1884, led him to transfer his services to the county of his birth, and for the next three summers he was a regular member of the Derbyshire eleven. Hi first appearance in Inter-shiral matches for his second county, too, against Lancashire at Manchester, was a marked success, and his seventy-three was the highest score made by a Derbyshire batsman in 1884. Later in the year, though, he failed to show to the same advantage in the better class of cricket, and his best achievements were in matches of minor importance. His scoring, indeed, during the season in second- rate fixtures was heavier than ever, and in three successive innings he made 452 runs—213 for Sheffield against L. W . Wallgate’s (Hull) eleven, 124 for Sheffield Wednesday against Eckington, and 125 for Pits­ moor againstAr nitage Bridge. After playing football for Derby County (luring the winter of 1884-85, he accepted a permanent engagement with the Burnley Club to play cricket as veil as football, datiDg from the middle of the summer of 18•'5. Settling down there, the term required for him to qualify for Lancashire was, of course, passing away, while he continued to take part in Derbyshire cricket. During this probationary period of two years, though his average was in each case inferior to that of William Chatterton, his batting formed one of the few striking features of the not, on the whole, very striking cricket shown by the Derbyshire eleven in 1885 and 1886. Though more successful, as was the County itself, in the former year, he was rarely dismissed without a fair number of runs to his credit. Two capital innings of 30 and 62, at Derby, against York­ shire, in the early part of the sea­ son, represented his highest show, but by far his best record during the two years was his 187, in 1895, against Hampshire at Southampton, a remarkably line disnlay of cricket. By the middle of July of last year he had qualified himself to play for Lancashire, and the day following Sugg, who had meanwhile refused to play for Derbyshire, took his place in the Lancashire eleven. His first appearance was at Manchester, against Northamptonshire, a id he was unfortunate enough to get the dreaded “ duck.” In his earlier fixtures g ;nerally he w is a little out of luck, but later oa he fully justified his place in the eleven, and his brilliant score of 98 against Surrey, at the Oval, was one of the best performances of the Lancashire season* In matches of lesser