Lives in Cricket No 19 - Frank Sugg

on the day, Hornby was so incensed by the crowd’s behaviour that he persuaded the Lancashire committee to drop the fixture for the following four seasons. When the twelve names for the Test were announced, Frank was delighted, and no doubt rather surprised, to learn that his name was among them. Sugg, George Ulyett, John Shuter and Harry Wood replaced O’Brien, Sherwin, Gunn and Steel of the eleven who had played at Lord’s. Steel was invited but declined to play. Effectively it was Steel’s place that was taken by Sugg, a very different style of cricketer to the haughty amateur. Probably the selectors thought that Sugg’s powerful hitting could be just the thing to unsettle Australia’s star bowlers, Turner and Ferris. The team therefore comprised three amateurs, W.G.Grace, W.W.Read and J.Shuter; and eight professionals, R.Abel, W.Barnes, J.Briggs, G.A.Lohmann, R.Peel, G.Ulyett, H.Wood and Sugg. The Australians fielded the same side that had triumphed at Lord’s. It was their Early Seasons with Lancashire 57 The England side which defeated Australia at The Oval in August 1888 by an innings and 137 runs. Standing (l to r): R.Peel, G.A.Lohmann, F.H.Sugg, G.Ulyett. Seated: J.Shuter, W.Barnes, W.G.Grace (capt), W.W.Read. On the ground: R.Abel, J.Briggs, H.Wood (wk). This was Sugg’s first Test match.