Lives in Cricket No 19 - Frank Sugg

match plus a sovereign for a win at home and an extra £1 for away matches – and the chance to revive his cricket career. With its ground at Old Trafford one of the country’s leading venues, a hinterland of thriving local cricket clubs and leagues to draw on, and support that was the envy of most counties, there was no reason to doubt that Lancashire would soon regain a position of prominence in county cricket. Wisden ’s comment on Lancashire’s acquisition was perceptive: ‘With a fine natural style and great power, he should render his latest employer great service but his inability to play a steady game detracts in some degree from his usefulness.’ 56 Frank, who never received any coaching, had a simple approach to batting: ‘Of course, my play was not a model of consistency. I never aimed at staying in to potter about. I looked upon the argument between a batsman and a bowler this way: if you did not knock him off, he would knock you out. Make a man think he can’t bowl. That was my motto.’ 57 His trademark shots were expansive drives down the ground and pulls to leg, though once set he could display a wider repertoire of strokes. His approach made him a great favourite with the crowds who anticipated some big hitting whenever he came to the crease. Although his captains would often rue Sugg’s reluctance to develop the defensive side of the batsman’s art and ‘get his head down’ at the beginning of an innings, his aggression on under-prepared and spiteful wickets, in particular, could be more effective than the more circumspect style of others. And, aside from his runs, in taking the fight to the opposition, his powerful hitting could have an uplifting effect on the morale of his side. When Frank finally came to make his debut for Lancashire, against MCC at Lord’s, he was bowled by W.G.Grace for only seven runs in the first innings and he was out for the same score when the county batted again in a match that Lancashire won by two wickets. This must have been a disappointing start but Frank appeared in all seven of Lancashire’s remaining matches in the Championship, usually batting at first wicket down. It was thanks to much improved batting that Lancashire finished second to Surrey in 1887. Sugg made a useful contribution, totalling 417 runs in his eight matches at an average of 29.75, third behind Walter Robinson and Joseph Eccles, the county’s leading 50 Early Seasons with Lancashire 56 Wisden , 1888, p 36. 57 Sporting Chronicle, 25 July 1916.