Lives in Cricket No 42 - Frank and George Mann

19 Frank Mann and Middlesex: 1912 to 1914 score some quick runs following an innings collapse. Five half-centuries were scored in the next eight matches and then his first century arrived. Going in at 39 for five against Worcestershire, Frank hit 135 out of 199 in 165 minutes with eighteen fours and two sixes, reported as ‘a glorious display of powerful driving’, before being last out at 238 after a last-wicket stand of 68 in only 40 minutes with Edward Mignon. 8 Reaching the age of 40 in the winter of 1913/14, Warner decided that it was time to look around to find his successor as the future captain of Middlesex. He needed an amateur who could commit, like himself, to full-time cricket every summer and take his place in the starting line- up on merit as a cricketer. Frank Mann was popular with both amateurs and professionals in the current side, and after Warner the second-best amateur in the Middlesex side of 1913, so Warner arranged for him to take a strong County eleven to Oxford and Cambridge to face the University teams at the start of the 1914 season. Winning both matches and returning with a confident team, was just what Warner had hoped for, but he wasn’t quite ready to hand over the reins to Frank just yet, and believed that he could enjoy yet another full season of Championship cricket. Like many others, Warner did not foresee the clouds of the Great War gathering on the horizon and the season coming to an abrupt end for some. There were no centuries for Frank Mann in 1914 but five half-centuries and the distinction of taking his first wickets as a bowler in first-class cricket. Warner hardly ever asked him to turn his arm over in any match but against Lancashire Frank surprised everyone by taking the wicket of Ernest Tyldesley caught-and-bowled in his third over. He would not take another wicket for almost nine years. 9 The other highlight was being selected for the Gentlemen versus Players match at The Oval in July. War with Germany was declared on 4 August although county cricket continued until the end of August and most counties, including Middlesex, completed their fixtures. Surrey held a clear lead over Middlesex in the Championship and needed only to win one match of their last two on the first-innings scores to be certain of finishing above Middlesex, but then had to cancel both when The Oval was requisitioned by the Army. Some people argued that Surrey had forfeited their right to the Championship which should go to Middlesex, while others believed that the title should remain in abeyance for the year. Eventually the MCC Committee meeting on 9 November ruled that Surrey be declared champions and Warner, who was present, raised no objections. The day after War had been declared, national newspapers began to carry advertisements calling for volunteers for the new National Army. Under the heading ‘Your King and Country Need You’, the message read: 8 It should not be thought that Frank was solely a big hitter. Wisden thought that ‘he could show the patience of a Barlow’, but would, if the ball seemed suitable, drive it a great distance. Raymond Robertson-Glasgow likened the effect to ‘Gulliver’s sneeze among the Lilliputians’. Habitués of the old Lord’s Tavern simply called him ‘Efty’. 9 His method is usually described as ‘slow right arm’: the occasional and expensive nature of his bowling in first-class cricket can be seen in Appendix One.