Lives in Cricket No 19 - Frank Sugg

run-scorer that season. Sugg’s highest score was 98 against Surrey at Kennington Oval where he and Eccles put on 152 in an hour and fifty minutes. Sugg was also called upon to bowl a few overs in 1887 and against Gloucestershire he took two for 20 runs off eight overs of his ‘slows’, both victims caught and bowled. Despite the inconsistency of his batting, Frank Sugg had quickly established himself as an important member of the Lancashire side. The 1888 season saw the visit of the sixth Australian side to tour England. In Australia the side was not regarded as truly representative of the ‘colony’ in view of the absence, for one reason or another, of F.R.Spofforth, H.Moses, T.P.Horan and George Giffen. Three preparatory matches had been lost before the team set sail on 24 March. The party, which consisted of only thirteen players, nevertheless included some excellent cricketers, including the captain and opening batsman Percy McDonnell, on his fourth tour of England; the stalwarts Bannerman and wicketkeeper Blackham, who had been on all five previous tours; the big-hitting Bonnor; the impressive allrounder S.P.Jones; another demon bowler in C.T.B.Turner; and the talented young left-armer J.J.Ferris. The tour was to be an arduous one, stretching over four months with no fewer than forty matches. As well as three Tests and matches against the counties, fixtures with a variety of invitation elevens of mixed quality were arranged, the aim, no doubt, being to boost the tour finances. The tourists did not leave for home until 12 October. A modern-day cricketer would be staggered at the thought of such a programme and length of time away from home. The Australians’ visit was eagerly anticipated by English followers of the game and by those cricketers who had hopes of being selected for the Tests. Frank Sugg could hardly have expected to make the Test side. His immediate aim was to consolidate his position as one of Lancashire’s leading batsmen. His season started slowly. After scoring only six and two in Lancashire’s opening fixture against Kent, he missed a number of games through injury, a rare occurrence in his career. The second match on his return was at Gloucester’s Spa Ground played on an under-prepared pitch full of weeds. After Gloucestershire were bowled out for 48, Barlow taking five for 13, Lancashire struggled to 232 for eight by the close of play on the first day. Sugg had made a blistering and unbeaten 102 out of 173 runs scored while he was at the crease. Rain washed out play on the final two days but Frank Early Seasons with Lancashire 51