Lives in Cricket No 2 - Johnny Briggs

36 12 48 6 Lancashire v Middlesex, Lord’s 1898 22 6 68 6 Lancashire v Hampshire, Old Trafford 34 9 63 8 Lancashire v Middlesex, Old Traford 31.2 7 82 7 Lancashire v Sussex, Old Trafford 1899 39 11 77 6 Lancashire v Hampshire, Southampton 48.3 12 109 6 Lancashire v Somerset, Taunton 39 12 76 7 Lancashire v Yorkshire, Sheffield 1900 28.5 7 55 10 Lancashire v Worcestershire, Old Trafford 40.3 13 87 7 Lancashire v Middlesex, Lord’s 54.3 22 95 6 Lancashire v Warwickshire, Edgbaston 39 24 53 7 Lancashire v Nottinghamshire, Old Trafford 23 8 49 6 Lancashire v Leicestershire, Old Trafford 33.5 8 135 6 North of England v South of England, Lord’s Notes: (a) In England, overs were of four balls from the start of Briggs’ career in 1879 until the end of the 1888 season, five balls from 1889 to the end of the 1899 season, and six in 1900. Outside England, overs were of four balls until the end of his tour in South Africa in 1888/89 and six balls thereafter. (b) Briggs took in addition, five wickets in an innings 94 times in first-class matches, the best being 5 for 11 for Lancashire v Oxford University, Old Trafford, 1885. Milestones 3 October, 1862: Born at Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. 1875: Briggs family moved to Widnes, giving their son a residential qualification for Lancashire. May, 1876: Joined Hornsea CC in East Yorkshire as a professional, aged 13. May, 1878: Joined Northern CC in Liverpool as a professional, still aged only 15. 26-28 May, 1879: Played debut first-class match, for Lancashire against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, aged 16 years 235 days, scoring 36 and taking 0 for 13 in a drawn match. 31 July, 1880: Took five wickets in an innings for first time in first-class cricket, with 5 for 34 in the second innings, playing as a ‘given man’ for Gentlemen of the North against Players of the North at Old Trafford. 27 August, 1881: Completed first full season for Lancashire, playing in fifteen first-class matches for the county. 22 May, 1884: Scored first century in first class cricket, 112 in Lancashire’s first innings against Derbyshire at Old Trafford. 12 August, 1884: Took five wickets in an innings for the first time in a county match, 6 for 54 in Somerset’s second innings at Taunton. 19 September, 1884: Joined A.Shaw’s XI at Plymouth, at the start of his first overseas tour, to Australia. 12-16 December, 1884 : Played debut Test match, against Australia at Adelaide, scoring 1 in his only innings, but did not bowl. 1 and 2 January, 1885: Scored century in his second Test, 121 in England’s first innings at Melbourne, his highest score in Test cricket. 6 and 7 July, 1885: Played in his first match for Players against Gentlemen at Lord’s, scoring 21 and 12, but did not bowl. 16 and 17 July, 1885: Scored 186 in Lancashire’s first innings against Surrey at The Oval, his highest score in first class cricket, adding 173 for tenth wicket with Dick Pilling, setting a new world first-class record for the last wicket. Career Statistics 103