Lives in Cricket No 13 - AP Lucas

Essex were able to put out their strongest side, consisting of six amateurs and five professionals. The Australians batted first and were bowled out in 3¼ hours, but not before they had rattled up 250 at 77 an hour. Essex closed on 72 for two but unfortunately the second day was one of the few wet ones in a glorious summer and Essex did not complete their innings of 237 until the third morning. Lucas was caught and bowled by Hugh Trumble for 15, the first of several encounters between two cricketers who were to develop a great respect for one another. At 6 feet 4 inches Trumble was exceptionally tall for a spinner, bowling at near medium pace and giving the ball a good tweak with his long fingers. On the rain-affected pitch, Essex bowled the tourists out for 141 in 2½ hours, but less than half an hour remained and, amid some scepticism, they emerged with rather the better of the draw. In the match, Mead bowled 73 overs unchanged and took 17 wickets for 205, a record-breaking performance recognised by a somewhat ungenerous collection of £8, presented to him by C.E.Green on the pavilion balcony. Essex were perhaps fortunate in getting the fixture at short notice, but they made the most of their opportunity and achieved a famous result that contributed to their obtaining first-class status the following season. Mead’s seventeen-wicket return has been a footnote in first-class record books ever since. Lucas and his team had their best win in their last home game, against Surrey. He won the toss and chose to bat on a ‘wicket that looked well, but from the small totals made by either side on first innings, must have belied its appearance’. Essex were bowled out for 62 in 65 minutes but gained an improbable first innings lead of eight, Kortright taking eight for 29. In the second innings ‘Carpenter and “Captain” Lucas made things lively by a most unexpected and meritorious stand’ of 59, both batting ‘confidently and well.’ Lucas was eventually seventh out, having ‘played brilliantly’ for 58 in 130 minutes, in a match where the next highest individual score was Carpenter’s 22. Surrey were dismissed for 76 and Essex won by 102 runs. Essex captain, 1889-1894 96 ‘Whatever I have been able to do as a bat ... has been from watching Mr Lucas.’ Tom Russell in 1897.