Frank Harry
Encyclopedia
Frank Harry was an English
cricket
er, who played 69 first-class
games for Lancashire
in the early years of the 20th century, and then another seven for Worcestershire
just after the First World War. He also turned out for Durham
in the Minor Counties Championship between 1912 and 1914.
After his retirement from playing, he stood in 21 games as an umpire
, all in 1921.
at Aigburth
at the end of July 1903. The game was badly affected by rain and was drawn; Harry did not bat, and his only wicket was that of Frank Thomas.
He played a handful more games during the following two seasons, but failed to set the cricketing world on fire.
, including three half-centuries, the highest of these (and of his career) being the 88 he hit against Worcestershire in June.
However, the highlight of his batting season came at Blackpool at the end of the summer, when in Lancashire's game against an England XI, he hit an unbeaten 64 in the second innings to guide the county to a tie.
With the ball Harry also enjoyed success in 1906. Without doubt his finest hour came against Warwickshire
at Old Trafford
in May. In a low-scoring match (which was over inside two days) he claimed 6/26 in the first innings, following it up with 9/44 in the second. This remained his career best, as did his match figures of 15/70.
He managed five-wicket hauls on two other occasions, and finished the summer with 87 wickets (another career best) at an average
of 19.63.
In 1907, Harry was similarly successful with the ball, picking up 84 wickets at 16.58, taking five in an innings on no fewer than eight occasions; this time his best return was at Eastbourne
, where he achieved a superb first-innings analysis
of 29.4-16-26-7; none of the other four bowlers in that innings managed an economy rate of under two.
However, he played much less in 1908 and took only 31 wickets, and after that season played no more for Lancashire.
at Worcester in July 1919.
After three unsuccessful games in 1920, Harry's first-class playing career was at an end. He stood for one season as an umpire, and died a few years later at the early age of 48.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er, who played 69 first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
games for Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
in the early years of the 20th century, and then another seven for Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
just after the First World War. He also turned out for Durham
Durham County Cricket Club
Durham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...
in the Minor Counties Championship between 1912 and 1914.
After his retirement from playing, he stood in 21 games as an umpire
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
, all in 1921.
Early career
Harry made his first-class debut for Lancashire against GloucestershireGloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
at Aigburth
Aigburth
Aigburth is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Located to the south of the city, it is bordered by Dingle, Mossley Hill, and Garston.-History:...
at the end of July 1903. The game was badly affected by rain and was drawn; Harry did not bat, and his only wicket was that of Frank Thomas.
He played a handful more games during the following two seasons, but failed to set the cricketing world on fire.
Prime
1906 was a completely different story, and indeed it was to prove a far more successful season for Harry. He scored a career-best 767 runs at 20.18Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, including three half-centuries, the highest of these (and of his career) being the 88 he hit against Worcestershire in June.
However, the highlight of his batting season came at Blackpool at the end of the summer, when in Lancashire's game against an England XI, he hit an unbeaten 64 in the second innings to guide the county to a tie.
With the ball Harry also enjoyed success in 1906. Without doubt his finest hour came against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (cricket)
Old Trafford is a cricket ground situated on Talbot Road in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester. It has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since its foundation in 1864, having been the ground of Manchester Cricket Club from 1857...
in May. In a low-scoring match (which was over inside two days) he claimed 6/26 in the first innings, following it up with 9/44 in the second. This remained his career best, as did his match figures of 15/70.
He managed five-wicket hauls on two other occasions, and finished the summer with 87 wickets (another career best) at an average
Bowling average
Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket.A bowler's bowling average is defined as the total number of runs conceded by the bowlers divided by the number of wickets taken by the bowler, so the lower the average the better. It is similar to earned...
of 19.63.
In 1907, Harry was similarly successful with the ball, picking up 84 wickets at 16.58, taking five in an innings on no fewer than eight occasions; this time his best return was at Eastbourne
The Saffrons
The Saffrons is a multi-purpose sports ground in Eastbourne, East Sussex. The ground is home to Eastbourne Cricket Club, Eastbourne Hockey Club and Eastbourne Town Football Club. There is also an astroturf pitch....
, where he achieved a superb first-innings analysis
Bowling analysis
In the sport of cricket, a bowling analysis usually refers to a notation summarising a bowler's performance in terms of overs bowled, how many of those overs are maidens , total runs conceded and number of wickets taken...
of 29.4-16-26-7; none of the other four bowlers in that innings managed an economy rate of under two.
However, he played much less in 1908 and took only 31 wickets, and after that season played no more for Lancashire.
Later playing career and umpiring
Indeed, despite the aforementioned short spell with Durham between 1912 and 1914, Harry did not appear in first-class cricket again until after the First World War. When cricket resumed in 1919, he was with a new county, Worcestershire, but he did not find success there. He played only eight times for his new side, and his best innings figures were just 3/60, achieved against SomersetSomerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
at Worcester in July 1919.
After three unsuccessful games in 1920, Harry's first-class playing career was at an end. He stood for one season as an umpire, and died a few years later at the early age of 48.