Lives in Cricket No 42 - Frank and George Mann

54 MCC in South Africa: 1922/1923 himself to join Sandham, but he was soon out and England struggled to reach 132 for the loss of eight wickets at close of play. With the Test now finely balanced, everyone left the Wanderers ground to celebrate Christmas and play did not resume until three days later on Boxing Day. No doubt everyone enjoyed their festive break but with so much at stake Frank would have been relieved that none of his players were now ‘indisposed’ and unable to take the field. After play began England added another important 50 runs and confidence returned, even with an innings lead limited to 34 runs in what was expected to be a low-scoring match. The first two South African wickets were gone with only 52 runs on the board and a third went at 91. Then there was a startling turnaround as the South African captain, Herbie Taylor, restored order and was unbeaten on 121 at close of play for the loss of only one more wicket and a lead of 236. Taylor continued the following morning, scoring all round the wicket before being caught by Gilligan at cover off Kennedy at 176 after batting for five hours and ten minutes. England were set a target of 387 to win but any hope of victory looked remote at the end of the day with 123 for four and Sandham, Mead, Carr and Kennedy all gone. Frank Mann had held himself back in case of emergencies but not expecting to go when the fourth wicket fell at 114. He held on to close of play and batted patiently all the next morning, refusing to concede defeat and hoping that either Jupp, Stevens, Fender, Brown, Macaulay or Gilligan could stay with him long enough to give him the opportunity to launch an attack and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It was not to be and England were all out just after lunch still 168 runs short with Frank unbeaten on 28. After the match Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught held a reception in the Royal Enclosure and Sir Abe Bailey was called upon for a speech. His face lit up with enthusiasm and, pointing to the scoreboard, he said: ‘There is the best speech you can have!’ Then the MCC party had to pack their bags and catch the next train down to Cape Town where the Second Test was scheduled to start in three days’ time on New Year’s Day. Both Russell and Macaulay were now fit and replaced Stevens and Gilligan, bringing England back to full strength. Runs came slowly on the first day after South Africa lost their first wicket before having any runs on the board, Macaulay taking the wicket of G.A.L.Hearne with his first ball in Test cricket. South Africa never recovered from this early setback and were all out for 113, leaving England plenty of time to struggle to 128 for four before close of play. Little progress was made on the second day with England crawling to a first-innings lead of 70, then South Africa edging to 134 for one, thanks to a century partnership between Taylor and Catterall. Gilligan made a brief appearance during the second afternoon, fielding as a substitute for Sandham who was suffering from a mosquito bite on his arm. Both Taylor and Catterall went early on the third day and South Africa ended with 242, setting England a target of 173. This looked like a perfect opportunity for England to level the series, but wickets started to fall at an alarming rate and Frank found himself once again facing defeat when he joined Mead at 59 for five. Together they took the score to 86 before