Lives in Cricket No 19 - Frank Sugg

J.M.Read, J.Briggs, A.W.Mold and Frank Sugg, the final choice to be between Mold and Sugg. Sugg’s inclusion, and indeed that of Mold in place of Martin, smacks of bias by the Lancashire selection committee which no doubt foresaw benefits at the gate from the inclusion of some leading Lancashire players. After the first day’s play was abandoned because of rain, the Manchester Guardian speculated that Mold would be left out because of the sodden conditions; had Mold played, it would have been his first appearance for England. 66 In the event, the match was a complete washout with not a single ball bowled, and with the rain went any opportunity for Frank Sugg to extend his Test career. After this rain-ruined fixture, Sugg played for the North against the Australians at Headingley and for the North against the South at Hastings, without achieving much in either match. At the very end of the season, he was one of a strong England XI, captained by George Ulyett, against the Australians at Old Trafford. The Australians scored 234 in their first innings, J.E.Barrett Lancashire Stalwart 71 This team, representing the North, lost to the South by nine runs at Hastings in September 1890. Standing (l to r): F.R.Spofforth, L.Hall, F.H.Sugg, A.Ward. Seated: G.Ulyett, M.Sherwin (wk), C.W.Wright (capt), W.Gunn, W.Attewell. On the ground: R.Peel, J.Briggs. Moustaches de rigeur. 66 Mold was to play in three Tests for England, all in 1893.