Lives in Cricket No 34 - Frank Mitchell

71 The writers of the Yorkshire section in the 1902 Wisden , looking back on 1901, were complimentary: For Frank Mitchell the season was one of splendid success, and it is safe to say that he was a finer bat than he had ever been before. Once in form he never looked back, being just as good at the end of August as at any time during the summer. His play, indeed, was a model of consistency. Having regard to the fact that Yorkshire played their home matches on so many different grounds, his work was even finer than the figures would suggest. Frank Mitchell played a very systematic game, never being in a hurry to get runs when he first went in, but always hitting finely when he had got the pace of the ground and felt himself set. Watchfulness of defence and powerful off driving were, as always, the strongest characteristics of his cricket. He did receive one reward for his efforts, being chosen by Sydney Pardon, Editor of Wisden , as being one of his Five Cricketers of the Year arising from the 1901 season. Pardon wrote of him As a batsman, Frank Mitchell is not one of those who strike the eye by grace and finish of style, but he has great qualities. Essentially an off-side player, he drives with tremendous power; in fact there are not many batsmen against whom it is a heavier task to field mid-off. While retaining to the full the hitting power which marked his cricket from the time he was first seen at Cambridge, he improved out of knowledge during his last two seasons for Yorkshire in patience, defence, and the ability to get runs on all sorts of wickets. There were few batsmen last season who, whatever the weather or the condition of the ground could more safely be depended upon for a good score. Even if circumstances should prevent him from taking part in first-class matches in this country, he has done enough to fill a considerable space in the cricket history of the last seven years. The circumstances that might prevent Mitchell from playing first-class cricket in England was a general reference to Mitchell’s decision to go to work in South Africa as one of Abe Bailey’s secretaries. The problem of many amateur cricketers also having to earn a living to support themselves comes up throughout this book. These difficulties would particularly affect Frank Mitchell, who had been paid for teaching and journalism, and must have been well looked after when playing cricket overseas or at country houses. But in late 1901 he was 29 years old and within the next decade would be married with children, so was doubtless looking for a more settled income. He was not the only amateur who had to take a difficult decision. His friend J.R.Mason, who was born and lived in Blackheath and who became Mitchell’s solicitor in later years, also suddenly resigned his captaincy of Kent before the start of the 1903 season, for business reasons. But Mason remained living in England so was partly able to back away from his decision and play ten or so games a year until 1910, and a few more until 1914. Mitchell by choosing to leave England had made his choice almost irrevocable. A remarkable season, and a lost opportunity 1901-02