Lives in Cricket No 2 - Johnny Briggs

part in the tour, Grace’s ‘hundredth hundred’ intruded on Stoddart’s side’s celebration dinner at the Café Monico in Piccadilly in late May. Briggs bowled against Grace in four matches during the season, but secured his wicket only twice, once when he had scored 104. Lancashire finished second in the championship, rather better than many had expected. Once more, they relied heavily on the bowling of Mold and Briggs, who took 182 and 119 wickets respectively. They had, however, secured the services of Albert Hallam, a Nottingham-born right-arm medium pace bowler, who in 14 matches shared some of the burden. By now the appearances of MacLaren, Lancashire’s appointed captain, were also irregular. At Taunton, he returned on 15 July to lead the side after missing the county’s six previous matches, and scored the first ever quadruple century in first-class cricket. MacLaren feasted on the Somerset bowling – everyone but the wicketkeeper was called upon to bowl – and, in truth, Somerset fielded a Bowling Lancashire to their first official title 70 Lancashire line-up 1895: Briggs (cross-legged on the ground, as usual, front left) with his team mates, Charles Smith, Aldred Tinsley (both seated). Back row: Arthur Mold, Albert Paul, Samuel Lunt (scorer), George Baker, Arthur Smith. Middle row: Albert Ward, Sidney Tindall, Archie MacLaren (captain), Gerald Bardswell, Frank Sugg.