Lives in Cricket No 2 - Johnny Briggs

moved up the order to No.6, scoring a solitary run before being bowled. Despite Briggs’ lack of success, Shaw’s XI won easily, by an innings and 37 runs. Briggs did not have a good Third Test at Sydney. He scored one in the first innings and contributed only three to England’s chase for 214 in the second, the side ultimately falling short by just seven runs as Australia, in a thrilling finish, pulled back the series deficit to 1-2. The Fourth Test, also played at Sydney, was marginally better for Briggs, but he must still have been bitterly disappointed with his performance, scoring three and five as Australia sauntered home by eight wickets to level the series. It was back to Melbourne for the series decider and here Briggs made a useful 43 in England’s first innings total of 386, a score which was enough to see England home to an innings success and a 3-2 win in the series. On the return journey, several players left the ship, the Orient Line’s SS Potosi , at Naples – this had been common practice on other tours – and reached England overland by rail on 12 May. Briggs and five other players remained on board as the ship returned via Gibraltar. The six remaining members of the party finally disembarked at Plymouth on 15 May. But there was little rest for Briggs – just six days later he was in action for Lancashire against Oxford University at The Parks. He batted in both innings, but wasn’t asked to bowl. Touring Australia for the first time 28