Frank Silcock (cricketer)

Silcock was born at Sawbridgeworth[1] and grew up in Chipping Ongar, Essex.[2] He began playing cricket at the age of seventeen and was originally a saddler by profession.[1] Playing as an all-rounder, he made his debut in first-class cricket for a United England Eleven against an All-England Eleven at Lord's in 1864.[3] He was employed as a cricket coach by several notable public schools, starting with Uppingham in 1864.[1] In April and May 1865, he was employed by Felsted School, while from June–August of the same year he was coaching the officers of the Colchester Garrison.[1]

Three years later he appeared twice for England against the Marylebone Cricket Club and a combined Surrey and Middlesex cricket team, as well as appearing for the Players in two Gentlemen v Players fixtures, and for the Players of the South against the Gentlemen of the South.[3] He took 16 wickets with his right-arm roundarm fast-medium bowling at an average of 17.43,[4] including taking what would be career best first-class figures when he took 7 for 132 against the Gentlemen at The Oval.[5] He featured in six first-class matches in 1869, taking a further 15 wickets at 22.86.[4] In that same year he was employed by Eton, while the following year he was the professional at Thorndon Hall with William Petre.[1] He had been an inn-keeper at the Chequers Inn in Maldon for sometime prior to 1869, having given that up in 1869.[1] Silcock played eight further first-class matches in 1870, featuring mostly for the United South of England Eleven and various Players' teams and taking a further 14 wickets at 27.35.[3][4]

He featured just once in 1871, appearing for the Players of the South against the Gentlemen of the South, taking 5 for 56 in the Gentlemen's first-innings.[6] He had returned to Eton to coach in 1871, a position he held until 1874.[1] He played in five first-class matches in 1872,[3] taking 12 wickets at 14.83,[4] before making just one appearance in 1873 in the Gentlemen of the South v Gentlemen of the North fixture,[3] during which he made his highest first-class batting score, with 66 opening the batting in the Players' first-innings.[7][8] He made five first-class appearances in 1874, taking 9 wickets at 15.55,[4] following this up in 1875 with a further five appearances and 6 at 13.66;[3][4] Silcock took all six of his wickets in one match, against the North at Tunbridge Wells.[9] His last major season of first-class cricket came the following year in 1876, when he made three appearances, taking a single wicket.[3][4]

Silcock had played for Essex in minor matches since 1860,[10] during which time he was considered one of the finest professionals to play for the county.[11] He was a founding member of Essex County Cricket Club in 1876 and captained the Players of Essex against the Gentlemen of Essex in a match to celebrate the occasion at Brentwood.[12] The year prior to the formation of the county club, Silcock was keeping a cricket warehouse at Chipping Ongar.[1]

A benefit match played on his behalf was held in 1878, when a United South of England Eleven captained by W. G. Grace played Essex.[13] In 1879, Silcock appeared in his 41st and final first-class match, playing for a London United Eleven against the United North of England Eleven at Birmingham.[3] Across his 41 first-class matches, he scored 776 runs at a batting average of 11.41, while with the ball he took 79 wickets at 20.63 apiece.[14] He continued to play for Essex until 1887,[10] seven years prior to its elevation to first-class status. He took up umpiring in first-class matches in 1889, standing in 36 matches until 1892, including the earliest matches of the nascent County Championship.[15]

He died at Marden Ash in May 1897. His cousin, Joseph Silcock, also played for Essex as a professional, but did not feature in first-class matches.[1]

• Frank Silcock at ESPNcricinfo