Lives in Cricket No 19 - Frank Sugg

fixture of MCC’s season, the first occasion on which Frank Sugg appeared in a match at cricket’s headquarters. The match was a crushing victory for Colts of the North. Their southern opponents were dismissed for 43 in their first innings. The Colts of the North replied with 119. Sugg, batting at first wicket down, was clean bowled for three by John Painter of Gloucestershire. In their second innings, the southern Colts mustered 44, the Yorkshire quick bowler George Harrison taking nine for 14 off 12 overs, all nine bowled and including the hat-trick and five wickets in six balls. Despite his own modest contribution, the county showed their continuing confidence in Frank Sugg by engaging him initially for five first-class matches in the coming season, the same number as offered to Bobby Peel. Selection followed for the Yorkshire first eleven for their opening fixture against MCC at Lord’s commencing on 21 May 1883. Frank could hardly have dreamed of making his first-class debut after so short an apprenticeship. By the time that Frank Sugg was on the threshold of a career in first-class cricket, he already had a considerable reputation as a footballer with various clubs in the Sheffield area. We shall consider his career in football in a later chapter. He was also an excellent athlete, particularly in events that enabled him to use his strength to good effect such as weightlifting, putting the shot and throwing the cricket ball. He was to become something of a star turn at the latter event, his longest throw measuring 115 yards. On one occasion at Blackburn he threw a cricket ball 101 yards while standing in a bath tub to beat the 85-yard throw of his Lancashire colleague, the fast bowler Jack Crossland. Opportunities for youngsters who did not attend public schools to shine in athletics were provided by the annual athletic competitions organised by leading cricket and football clubs in Sheffield, notably Sheffield Football Club, Hallam Football and Cricket Clubs and the Wednesday Cricket Club. In the beginning, participation in these competitions was limited to club members, but by the late 1860s they had become ‘open’ competitions, often attracting many competitors, some from distant towns, and with admission charges for spectators. A wide variety of prizes for a wide variety of events would be on offer at these meetings. In the early days they would include ‘joke’ events such as wheelbarrow races or races where the competitors had to balance a bucket of water on their heads. But soon the competitions took on a more serious note. The value of prizes was increased. The conduct of the Sporting Beginnings 25