Lives in Cricket No 37 - William Clarke

Appendix Three The All-England Eleven Song This is the song written by William Clarke and often sung at dinners held after the conclusion of matches played by the All-England Eleven. It was published in F.S.Ashley-Cooper’s Nottinghamshire Cricket and Cricketers , issued in 1923. The song was apparently sung to the tune of ‘Rule, Britannia!’, the patriotic poem written by James Thompson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740. When cricket first in olden time Was played by Briton’s hardy race, In that great science they were far behind The men who now the wickets grace. Refrain: Then success to cricket, ‘tis a noble game, It’s patronized by Royalty, and men of wealth and fame. The Marylebone ranks first of all, It’s they who do our Laws control; And then I Zingari, those trumps with bat and ball, And the Eleven of All England, composed of great and small. Then success to cricket, etc. May honour be its guiding star, And batsmen well their wickets guard; Then shall it flourish, shall flourish through the land, And merit its just reward. Then success to cricket, etc. 133