Lives in Cricket No 42 - Frank and George Mann

58 MCC in South Africa: 1922/1923 before Sandham was bowled by Francois. Russell battled on with little support, even Frank going early lbw for only 15 and England were 149 for nine. With Gilligan’s support Russell batted with great determination and they took the total to 201 by the end of play, with Russell unbeaten on 90. The brave pair continued to score runs on the fourth morning and Russell reached his second century of the match, the first Englishman to do so in Test matches and when he was out at 244, Gilligan remained unbeaten on 39, having played a vital part in a last wicket stand of 92 in only 80 minutes. Spectators on the ground started to take up a collection for Russell which raised over £90. Needing 344 runs to win South Africa started steadily and reached 111 for three when bad light stopped play for the day. The fifth day was curtailed by rain and South Africa reached 203 for the loss of another four wickets but Taylor was still there on 76 and looking good for another century. The next day two more wickets fell for the addition of only 29 runs but Taylor went at 232 for nine, having just reached his century after batting for 270 minutes spread over three days and England had won by 109 runs. There was little time for celebrations in the MCC camp as they were due at Bloemfontein to play the Orange Free State in two days’ time, starting on Saturday, 24 February. There the celebrations began in style when play ended on the evening of the first day with a dinner in honour of their visit given by the mayor and council of Bloemfontein at the Bloemfontein Club. Frank Mann’s surviving menu, marked ‘Top Table’, shown to me by his grandson James, lists eleven wines, whisky, brandy, port and liqueurs to assist with the four toasts all duly proposed, seconded and responded to. 29 The players had all Sunday to recover from the effects of the celebrations and resumed play on the Monday: thanks to a fine century from Sandham they went on to win by 256 runs on the final day. There was just time to fit in the last three-day match against Western Province in Cape Town before their boat sailed to take them back to England: they were without Greville Stevens as he had returned a month before in order to resume studies for his final year at Oxford University. The MCC won their last match, a first-class fixture against Western Province back at Newlands, by ten wickets after Frank had put himself on to bowl for one over. In this, after conceding seven runs, he ended the innings with his last ball and so finished top of the bowling averages for the tour; it was first-wicket in first-class cricket for nine years. The performances of the southern professionals in first-class matches gave Frank a lot to thank them for. His three leading run-scorers were Sandham with 985 runs at 44.77, Jack Russell with 901 at 56.31 and Mead with 695 at 36.57. His leading wicket-taker was Kennedy with 61 at 16.78, followed by Fender, an amateur, with 58 at 19.58. Macaulay’s contribution of 29 first-class wickets, including 16 in his four Tests, was important as was his batting at number eleven to see England through to victory in the Second Test. Warner reported to his readers that as far as the captain’s management was concerned: ‘it is said that Frank Mann did so to perfection.’ Praise for Frank’s successful conduct of the tour came in from all directions and 29 And it was just one of many such dinners on the tour!