Lives in Cricket No 34 - Frank Mitchell

21 summer. However he did play in two significant matches. He was selected for the Sussex Club and Ground team to play MCC and Ground on 11, 12 July. The Sussex team included five amateurs and six members of the ground staff. Mitchell was in the side as an amateur and others who later played first-class cricket included Walter Herman Andrews (Sussex), William Gratwicke Heasman (Sussex), and Arthur William Fitzroy Somerset (Sussex) who became President of Sussex in 1936 and who captained two MCC tours to the West Indies. A professional called Tate, very likely Fred Tate of Sussex and later England, was also in the team. MCC batted first and scored 268 and Mitchell ‘ donned the gloves’ at lunch time when Harry Butt the Sussex wicket keeper opened up a hand injury. Mitchell dropped C.W.Wright who went on to score 106, and then rain ruined the match before Mitchell could bat and seek to redeem his error. Immediately after that game, Mitchell played for the Gentlemen of Sussex against the United Services at their ground at Portsmouth, much used for first-class cricket until well after World War I. The Gentlemen of Sussex had first knock and the Sussex Daily News reported: ‘ Sussex sent in H.G.Papillon and Frank Mitchell and they freely hit at the bowling of W.Morgan and Harris whilst Mitchell exhibited a happy knack of putting the ball quietly away for singles. Later Mitchell took a four to leg from Morgan and then took two two’s from the bowling of Major Bethune a lob bowler. Just before lunch the uprights of Mitchell were disturbed by Bethune for 20.’ After such enthusiastic reporting it seems a shame that Mitchell only scored 20! But he did take four for 12 and a catch as the United Services were dismissed for 101 and had to follow on. In the summer holidays of 1892 Mitchell returned to Malton. Whilst he had been in Sussex that year, Londesborough Park had progressed to the final of the North and East Ridings of the Yorkshire Challenge Cup. The final was to be against Thirsk at Bootham Crescent, then the ground of York Cricket Club and from 1932 the home of York City FC. Mitchell played for Londesborough Park who had the first innings of the game. They scored over 200 of which Mitchell made 94. Thirsk were then bowled out cheaply and had to follow on, and were again unable to cope with the Londesborough bowling so that Mitchell’s team won by an innings. Though normally his cricket now would have been to a higher standard, he would have been very pleased with a Yorkshire success. In 1893 Mitchell’s name appears in more scorecards relating to the Brighton Club. Sadly scorebooks for Sussex 2 nd XI, Sussex Club and Ground, and Gentlemen of Sussex do not survive for 1891-1893. However it is known from the Sussex Daily News that Mitchell appeared in Brighton Club matches against Brighton College, Eastbourne, Hurst College, Littlehampton (twice), Broadwater and Worthing. His 77 not out against Eastbourne is recorded as ‘an admirably compiled contribution’ and greater applause would have been given for a wonderful 184, out of a first wicket partnership with F.A.Wooley (123 not out) of 300 runs against Hurst College. In late July Mitchell also made 123 not out in his second match against Cricket in Sussex, 1891-93