Lives in Cricket No 13 - AP Lucas

Chapter Four Surrey and Cambridge University, 1874-1878 H.H.Stephenson retired from first-class cricket in 1871 but ensured that his old county was made aware of the potential of his young protégé, who was qualified for them by residence. While still a pupil at Uppingham, Lucas made his first-class and Surrey debut on 16 July 1874 at The Oval against Middlesex. Aged 17 years and 148 days, he was at that time the youngest person to play for Surrey in first-class cricket. Exactly as he had in his first game for the Uppingham first eleven, he opened the innings and was run out for seven, perhaps underestimating his opponents’ skills at a higher level of the game. In the second innings he was bowled for 20. On 20 July at Prince’s, where he had scored 76 for the Rovers a few days earlier, Lucas was selected for the Gentlemen of the South against the Players of the North. The Players won the toss and batted. While W.G.Grace steadily picked up five wickets at one end, including two catches held by Lucas, his brother Fred was unsuccessful at the other. Lucas came on as first and only change bowler. He soon had the Players’ top scorer, William Oscroft, stumped and Arnold Rylott caught, finishing with two for 41. The Players were all out for 147 and by close of play the Gentlemen were 209 for six, with Lucas not out 48. Rylott caught and bowled him before he added to that score and the Players fought back: by the end of the second day the Gentlemen were 57 for four needing a further 67 to win. On the third morning Lucas and Fred Grace put together a partnership of 56 before Lucas was bowled by Shaw, but the Gentlemen won by four wickets. Half a century later, The Times in Lucas’s obituary commented: As regards the early development of his powers he belonged to a very select band. Mr. Lucas did not appear for Gentlemen v Players as a schoolboy, but he came very near it. In 1874 – the year he left Uppingham – he was picked for the Gentlemen of the South against the Players of the North at Prince’s, and scored 48 and 23. His form in those two innings – against Alfred Shaw and Morley at their best – left no doubt as to his class. It was felt by all good judges that a new star had been discovered. … When he jumped into fame at Prince’s, Mr. Lucas was under seventeen and a half … he never looked back. Lord Harris recalled it was said that when Lucas was batting against Shaw and Morley ‘the bowler only needed a mid-on and mid-off, as he played so 37