Ex Lancashire CCC & England batsman.
Frank acknowledged that as far as he knew he wasn’t related to the trainer/jockey who raced at the Belmont racetrack, New York, in 1923. It would have been an unusual claim to fame; the American sadly suffered a fatal heart attack during the race yet remained in the saddle as his horse passed the finishing line in first place!
‘Our’ Frank made waves of his own in the 1970s as a dashing middle order batsman for the Red Rose County, becoming something of a ‘golden boy’ in the eyes of Lancashire watchers who predicted a stellar career.
Hitting 94 on debut in 1970 set the tone and indeed he went on to captain his County for two seasons. Hitting Malcolm Nash for 34 runs in an over was evidence of the destruction he could cause but he was unfortunate to be called up when the great West Indies team of the era was in its pomp.
It all started well with an unbeaten 106 on Test debut but he managed a top score of only 29 in eight further Tests, all against the WI. Stoically he accepted that he underachieved, having had the chances to establish himself as a classy and elegant England regular.
After retirement Hayes later became Director of Cricket at Oakham School. Frank didn’t emulate fellow Prestonian, Freddie Flintoff, in achievement but scored over 15,000 runs for Lancashire … thoroughly enjoying every minute of it.