Lives in Cricket No 37 - William Clarke

93 Controversy – the appearance of the United England team was just eight days away. On 2 September, Clarke reappeared at Trent Bridge, after a gap of six complete seasons, in Nottinghamshire v Surrey. The Nottingham Review comments: ‘This match was entirely brought about by the indefatigable exertions of the well-known Charley Brown,’ the Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper, though on 23 July the same paper had reported: ‘We have the pleasure of informing our readers that after much expense of time and trouble, the Committee of the Nottingham Town and County Cricket Club have succeeded in arranging for a return match against Surrey at Trent Bridge.’ It is believed that the Trent Bridge Inn and Ground had been run by a Mr Wildey, following John Chapman’s move to Gainsborough, but the 1851 census gives only two servants living at the Inn on the day the count was made. Joseph Hickling, a much more renowned landlord, took over the lease later in the 1850s. Matches played by both Nottingham Commercial and Notts Amateurs at Trent Bridge are published in the press during the season. Despite the desertion of the AEE by two professionals, the only new recruit to the side to make regular appearances in 1852 was John Bickley, a fast round-arm bowler who had played in some Nottinghamshire matches since 1847. He came from Keyworth and was a notable all-round athlete. The whole of the rift between Clarke and the deserters led by Wisden and Dean blew up afresh in the columns of the major sporting paper of the day, Bell’s Life, on 4 December 1852. The editor had clearly thought long and hard before deciding to publish − the letter is dated 4 November − and More hard graft. The well-known sketch by Nathaniel Felix showing William Martingell climbing a Fenland signpost at dead of night to find the way.