William Clarke

WILLIAM BENJAMIN CLARKE, passed away at Nottingham, on August 18th. He was born at Old Basford, on November 5th, 1846,and was therefore in his fifty -sixth year at the time of his death. His name will be found a few times in the Nottinghamshire eleven, commencing in 1874. He was not related to William Clarke, the famous slow bowler of sixty years ago, or to William Clarke, of Kirby-in-Ashfield, who first appeared in the county eleven in 1876. From 1866 to 1872 he was engaged by the Plymouth Club. and afterwards by the West of Scotland C.C., at Partick, Glasgow. In 1880, he became qualified by residence for Middlesex. and in the year named made his first appearance for his adopted county against Notts , at Lords, and, by obtaining seven wickets for 51 runs in the first innings, raised hopes which were, unfortunately, never realized. In all Middlesex matches in which he took part, he obtained 68 wickets for 1,317 runs, and in 24 completed innings he scored 182 runs. In his day he was a useful bowler - right hand, slow to medium pace - but it would be an exaggeration to suggest that he ever occupied a very prominent place in the cricket world. For twelve years he was engaged at Harrow. In April 1889, he became host of the Clayton Arms--a familiar landmark to all frequenters of the Oval.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack