Lives in Cricket No 2 - Johnny Briggs

In the home Tests against Australia, much to the disappointment of the crowd, Briggs did next to nothing in the opening match of the three-game series on his home ground at Old Trafford, which England won by four wickets. He failed to shine with the bat and wasn’t called upon to bowl. But his career underwent a sea change in the Second Test at Lord’s when he was quite clearly England’s match-winner with the ball, taking 5 for 29 and 6 for 45 as England romped to an innings and 106-run victory. It hadn’t looked promising for England until captain Allan Steel, himself a Lancastrian and a colleague of Briggs at Old Trafford, called on Briggs as first change with Australia 45 for 1. Briggs didn’t let Steel down and Australia were all out for only 121 with Briggs’ figures 34-22-29-5. When the Australians followed on, Briggs rattled through them again. His reputation as an international bowler was firmly established that day. For Steel, although not a regular captain, it was another success. He had an uncanny knack of getting the best out of teams under his command and gained notable wins for Marlborough over Rugby, Gentleman against Players, Cambridge against Oxford, Lancashire versus Yorkshire, and of course, England against their deadly foes, Australia. An outstanding all-rounder, Steel was rated second only to Grace by his peers. In the final Test, at The Oval, Briggs continued his good form, making 53 and taking 3 for 28 and 3 for 30 as the home side completed another massive win, this time by an innings and 217 runs. Briggs was touring once again in 1886/87 with Shaw’s XI down under, leaving Plymouth on board the Orient liner Cuzco on 18 September, and arriving in Adelaide on 29 October, with a ten-hour stopover in Aden. His Lancashire colleague Barlow was also in the party, having previously toured with Shaw and Shrewsbury’s team in 1881/82 and the Hon Ivo Bligh’s team in 1882/83. The Indian Ocean leg was distinctly choppy and Briggs, just as he had on his first tour, suffered from sea sickness along with William Gunn (who later founded the successful sports firm, Gunn and Moore), Barlow, Lillywhite and Billy Bates. The latter’s career was cut short a year later when he was hit in the face by a ball in the nets while on a non-Test tour of Australia led by George Vernon. The injury damaged his sight to such an extent that he was never able to play at first-class level again. He became so depressed by the injury that at one point he attempted suicide. However, Huddersfield-born Coming of age as a cricketer 35