Ford Francis Image 5 Middlesex 1896

Description

Paddington, London born left-hand batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler Francis Ford was from a sizeable family of cricketers and the youngest of seven brothers. He was educated at Repton School, being cricket captain in his last two seasons, and King’s College, Cambridge University, where he both represented the University cricket team winning his Blue between 1887 and 1890, being the University’s captain in 1889, also winning his Blue in football in 1887 and 1888, being captain of the team in 1889. As a goalkeeper he also played for The Corinthians.

In his first year Oxford won the Varsity match by seven wickets, the next match was drawn, and then he took part in two handsome Cambridge victories. When captain, he led his side to a great triumph by an innings and 105 runs, and, playing again in 1890, he helped Cambridge to win by seven wickets. He failed to show his best form in the University match except in 1890, when on a treacherous pitch ruined by rain he made the highest score, not out 32, which won the game. He top scored with 191 when Cambridge University made its highest ever total of 703-9 against Sussex at Hove in 1890, when Gregor McGregor, the Cambridge captain, also made 131 and C.P. Foley scored 117.

Known as “Stork” on account of his height, he used his height to help put exceptional force into his left-hand strokes. Gilbert Jessop said that Ford was the most graceful of left-handed batsmen. he played first class cricket for Cambridge University, Middlesex and the Marylebone Cricket Club (M.C.C.) between 1886 and 1899. In 1893 he was second to A.E. Stoddart in the Middlesex averages when scoring generally was moderate and, captained by Stoddart, he played five Test matches for England on their tour to Australia in 1894-95, making his debut at Sydney in December 1894. In that match he scored 48 when England followed on in face of Australia’s 586, so helping Albert Ward and J.T. Brown to pull the game round and set their rivals 177 to win, Peel and Briggs then bowling Australia out 10 runs short. He didn’t beat that score subsequently, averaging 18.66 in the series.

He headed the first class batting averages in 1897, when he averaged 53 with an aggregate of 805 runs. He excelled for the Gentlemen at Lord’s, playing two fine not out innings of 50 and 79. The second, on worn turf, was superb, only W.G. Grace and Gilbert. Jessop of the other batsmen making scores.

Poor health compelled Francis Ford to give up County cricket at the end of the 1899 season after 168 first class matches, having scored 7,293 runs at an average of 27.05, including 14 centuries and 30 half centuries. A good slow left-handed bowler, he often caused trouble by dropping the ball an accurate length from a great height with plenty of spin and curl; in firs -class cricket he took 200 wickets at 23.78 apiece, with a best performance of 7-65, taking five wickets in an innings 8 times and ten wickets in a match once. He also took 131 catches in the field.

His Wisden obituary said “His drives, either kept down or lifted over the bowler’s head, were dazzling, and his cuts the perfection of timing. He revelled in these strokes when fast bowlers lost their length because of his punishment, and at Lord’s the crowds grew enthusiastic over the way he scored from the best fast bowlers – Arthur Mold of Lancashire, Tom Richardson and Bill Lockwood of Surrey, suffered specially at his hands.”

Ford was part of a large cricketing family, with his father W.A., two brothers A.F.J., and W.J., a nephew Neville Ford, great-nephew John Barclay and uncle G.J.Ford all playing first class cricket.