Lives in Cricket No 13 - AP Lucas

therefore that he was remarkably fit for his age, and that his absences were for business reasons. 1902 At the start of the season, Lucas was aged 45 and Owen 43. Owen played in six of Essex’s first eight games but it was clear he was a spent force. He scored only 39 runs in seven innings and was almost immobile in the field. He believed that a captain should play in all the matches and commented: I don’t think myself good enough or sound enough to do this. I find that I cannot stand the strain of playing every day throughout the summer – my leg always goes after about three weeks. 92 Lucas had deputised for Owen since resigning the captaincy in 1895 and now officially shared it with him. Though physically far fitter than Owen, he was growing increasingly deaf so it was hardly a forward-looking decision, and it was not surprising that Essex dropped to thirteenth, with only two wins. Lucas played only three games before mid-July and, in a notoriously rain-sodden summer, all three were affected by weather. At Leyton against Kent, Essex enjoyed the best of the conditions and won by an innings in two days. Unusually, their fielding was described as very good and Lucas himself held two catches, so it may be that he was able to inspire a greater degree of athleticism than the lumbering Owen. Owen made his final appearance for Essex on 14 July and Lucas returned to the side on the 21st, at Leicester. With Carpenter disaffected and out of form, Essex had been struggling to find an opening partner for Fane and Lucas took on the role, making only 26 but playing ‘in splendid style’. Apart from this, the only away games he played were at The Oval and Canterbury. He was normally happy to travel, so perhaps there was some reason why he needed to be within easy access of his office. 108 Essex cricketer, 1895-1907 Lucas wielding his experimental long-handled bat for the benefit of the photographer in about 1902. The handle appears to be about 15 in long, so presumably its blade was reduced to 23 in. 92 Essex Chronicle , 1 May 1903.