Lives in Cricket No 34 - Frank Mitchell

16 St Peter’s School, 1883-1890 Another important fixture in 1886 was a special one against the Rev E.S.Carter’s XI. Carter, born in Malton, was a Yorkshire cricketing personality. He was an Oxford Blue, played a few games as an amateur for Yorkshire, and notably introduced Lord Hawke to the Yorkshire side. His influence was considerable and young Mitchell did well to know him. 1887. At the age of 14 Mitchell was now playing regularly for the first team. He was often batting low in the order so his skills may have been thought to be just as much in his slow off breaks as in his forceful batting with the drive between mid-on and mid-off being favoured strokes. He also did some wicket-keeping, a role he rather enjoyed though he ultimately chose batting as his preferred cricketing talent. He took four wickets for two runs against the patients and doctors of the North Riding Asylum, and then top scored with 20 against Londesborough Park, a club with whom he formed warm associations. 1888. A writer in the The Peterite wrote of Mitchell having ‘ approved valour’ – a perceptive comment about a young man who would show much valour in his life. Did some problem affect one of the Yorkshire Gentlemen games, for the Gentlemen spent the entire day in scoring 490 against the school with Mitchell taking one for 70 ‘ with his slow breaks’ ? Not to allow the schoolboys an innings seems rather churlish. The school team only won four matches from 19 played. The Peterite was scathing. ‘There was a languid indifference to practice which to a very great extent neutralised any good qualities the team possessed. In 1888, as an exhibition of cricket, the season was bad.’ Mitchell may have felt pleased that he had not been captain of this team. 1889. Now he was captain, and at the age of only 16. He immediately moved himself up the order to open the innings. At once he made a notable half century against Doncaster Grammar School – 56 out of the 76 scored whilst he was at the wicket. The grammar school were bowled out for 23 and 16 (Mitchell five for 8). This was a great success for the school and would have made Mitchell a particular hero. No one, however, could have envisaged the wonderful innings against the Yorkshire Gentlemen at Wigginton Road. The young captain scored 129 out of his side’s total of 244. The Peterite cautiously and without statistics to hand declared that the innings had ‘seldom been excelled in any of our school matches. A really fine performance.’ As play ended the Gentlemen were struggling on 66 for five. 1890. In his last year at St Peter’s, Mitchell remained the captain. 68 against Ripon Grammar School was fine preparatory work for the next Yorkshire Gentlemen fixture. He did not disappoint his admirers. The Yorkshire Gentlemen included the great Lord Hawke in their side, together with their professional bowler H.J.Siddall. Siddall in his career played occasionally for North and East Riding, and for the Yorkshire Second XI. In a grand attacking innings Mitchell scored 116 in 34 overs out of a total of 219. In one spell of five balls from a Mr Cox followed by three balls from Siddall, Mitchell hit 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 8 (including four overthrows), 4 and 5. The schoolboy watchers must have shouted themselves hoarse. The match was