Lives in Cricket No 19 - Frank Sugg

northern county a poor hand. The final match of the Championship for Lancashire was against Nottinghamshire at Old Trafford and this finished as a draw, after rain had once again played a malevolent part. During the two days in which play was possible 32 wickets fell for a total of 254 runs: Frank Sugg contributed three and nought in his two excursions to the crease. Surrey were worthy winners of the Championship with twelve wins from their 14 matches. Lancashire finished a disappointing fifth in Wisden’s unofficial table, with just four wins from the same number of matches. Joseph Eccles was Lancashire’s leading batsman with 525 championship runs at an average of 27.12, followed by Johnny Briggs who had a triumphant season with bat and ball, and then by Frank Sugg. Sugg scored 316 runs in his 20 championship innings at an average of 17.55, boosted, it has to be said, by his 102 not out at Gloucester. Barlow and Hornby had averages of only 15.28 and 15 respectively. For Surrey, six of their regular batsmen had higher averages than Eccles which shows that it was the batting that let Lancashire down, even when allowance is made for the awful weather that summer. It is fair to add that Sugg’s contribution to his side could be more valuable than the statistics might suggest, his hard hitting in useful partnerships after Lancashire had lost early wickets not infrequently helping to stem the tide. The disappointment was that he rarely turned a hard-hit twenty or so into something more substantial. And Sugg continued to be vulnerable early in his innings; in 12 of his 20 championship innings he failed to reach double figures. Sugg may well have felt he had not done enough to retain his place in the Test side but he had the advantage that the team was to be selected by the Lancashire committee and it was common practice at the time for the selectors to give preference to players of the host county. Lancashire’s Richard Pilling was chosen as wicketkeeper in place of Wood and Gunn replaced John Shuter when the Surrey captain declined the invitation to play. Once again, and even though the Test was on his county ground, A.G.Steel could not make himself available. The team was therefore: W.G.Grace, W.W.Read, R.Abel, G.Ulyett, W.Barnes, F.H.Sugg, W.Gunn, R.Peel, J.Briggs, G.A.Lohmann and R.Pilling. After heavy rain in the preceding days, winning the toss was an advantage and it was England who had first use of the wicket. They compiled 172 runs with Sugg joint second top-scorer with 24 Early Seasons with Lancashire 59