Lives in Cricket No 2 - Johnny Briggs

Nottinghamshire informed them that they would not renew their fixtures with Lancashire because they believed that Crossland had broken his residential qualification for Lancashire. During the following campaign in 1884, Lancashire’s headquarters at Old Trafford became a Test venue for the first time – four years after The Oval but 11 days before Lord’s – although at county level they fell behind their adversaries Nottinghamshire. Briggs started the season well with his then highest score of 74, including 12 fours, against an MCC side, including W.G.Grace, at Lord’s. Wisden reported that Briggs had batted with ‘great freedom’. He also took two wickets and pouched two catches, but his exploits failed to stop Lancashire succumbing to an innings defeat. In the next match, against Derbyshire at Old Trafford, Briggs was to score his maiden first-class century, 112, batting at No.6. Again Wisden was full of praise for Briggs, remarking on his ‘brilliant hitting’. This time his good work wasn’t wasted and the home side secured a 42-run victory. Later in the year, he scored 75 not out in the Roses match against Yorkshire at Bramall Lane, Sheffield in a six-wicket win for the visitors. He ended the season with a highly respectable run total of 667, albeit at an average of 19.61 and took 15 catches. But, more to the point, with Nash out of the Lancashire side for most of the season and Crossland missing in August, he was called into the attack in 16 matches and was rewarded with 17 wickets at 25.23 with career-best figures of 6 for 54, bowling unchanged with Watson (Barlow was playing against Australia) as Somerset were bowled out for 86 in an eight-wicket win for Lancashire. In a satisfying end to the match, Briggs was at the crease on ten not out when the winning runs were struck. During the season, Briggs played in five ‘representative’ matches of varying quality, including four times when the Australian touring side provided the opposition. Against the Australians, he appeared twice for the Players (at Sheffield and The Oval); once for an England XI (at Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham, one of only two first-class matches ever played at this venue) and once for the North of England (at Old Trafford). He also played for the Players against the Gentlemen at The Oval. It was a clear sign that he was now considered more than just a run-of-the-mill county pro although, in truth, his contribution with both bat and ball was modest to say the least. Four times he lost his wicket to Australia’s Fred ‘The Demon’ Spofforth and he bowled only a few token overs. From Widnes to Old Trafford 20