This is a famous poem written by Sir Henry Newbolt in 1892 and it was used as a propoganda piece in World War 1. I'm sure the Tour Squad won't end up in a war but there'll be some tough battles in Barbados and it may well come down to "Ten to make and the match to win - A bumping pitch and a blinding light" in the conditions we are likely to find in the Caribbean - the Squad's spirit and comradeship will be vital in such circumstances! It was a bit like that in the last match at the Taunton Festival in August when the Lancs Lads were pipped at the post by Hampshire in a thrilling finish to a week's great cricket.
Vitai Lampada
- There's a breathless hush in the Close tonight -
- Ten to make and the match to win -
- A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
- An hour to play and the last man in.
- And it's not for the sake of the ribboned coat,
- Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,
- But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote -
- 'Play up ! play up ! and play the game !'
- The sand of the Desert is sodden red -
- Red with the wreck of a square that broke; -
- The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel's dead,
- And the regiment's blind with dust and smoke.
- The river of death has brimmed his banks,
- And England's far, and Honour a name,
- But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks:
- 'Play up ! play up ! and play the game !'
- This is the world that year by year,
- While in her place the school is set,
- Every one of her sons must hear,
- And none that hears it dare forget.
- This they all with joyful mind
- Bear through life like a torch in flame,
- And falling fling to the host behind -
- 'Play up ! play up ! and play the game !'
- Sir Henry Newbolt
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