Gilbert Ashton

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Gilbert Ashton
female =


country = England
fullname =
nickname =
living =
dayofbirth = 27
monthofbirth = 9
yearofbirth = 1896
placeofbirth = Bromley, Kent
countryofbirth = England
dayofdeath = 6
monthofdeath = 2
yearofdeath = 1981
placeofdeath = Abberley, Worcestershire
countryofdeath = England
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm =
batting = Right-handed
bowling = Leg-break
role =
club1 = Cambridge University
year1 = 1919—1921
club2 = Worcestershire
year2 = 1922—1936
deliveries = balls
columns = 1
column1 = FC
matches1 = 62
runs1 = 2,329
bat avg1 = 24.01
100s/50s1 = 2/13
top score1 = 125
deliveries1 = 626
wickets1 = 14
bowl avg1 = 37.21
fivefor1 = 0
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 3-49
catches/stumpings1 = 26/0
date = 9 July
year = 2008
source = http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/27/27541/27541.html CricketArchive

Gilbert Ashton MC (27 September 1896—6 February 1981) was an English cricketer who played 62 first-class matches betweeen the wars, mostly for Cambridge University (whom he captained in 1921, and also captained at football) and Worcestershire. His obituary in "Wisden" called him "a fine, aggressive stroke-player" and praised his fielding ability at cover point.Obituary. "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack" 1982.] His bowling was of the occasional variety, and after he left Cambridge became essentially non-existent. [cite web |url=http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/27/27541/f_Bowling_by_Season.html |title=First-class Bowling in Each Season by Gilbert Ashton |accessdate=2008-07-09 |publisher=CricketArchive]

Ashton played less cricket than his ability merited as his "day job" for four decades from 1921 until 1961 [cite web |url=http://www.abberleyhallschool.co.uk/PAGES/INFORMATION/info_hist_school.htm |title=Abberley Hall - History of the School |accessdate=2008-07-09 |publisher=Abberley Hall School] was that of headmaster of the prep school of Abberley Hall School near Worcester. However, he played for Worcestershire when he could during the holidays, and in 1922, on only his second appearance for the county, he made 125 (his career-best) and 84 in a match against Northamptonshire at New Road. [cite web |url=http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/10/10571.html |title=Worcestershire v Northamptonshire in 1922 |accessdate=2008-07-09 |publisher=CricketArchive] "Wisden"'s obituary also praised his 36 for an England XI against Warwick Armstrong's Australians a year earlier, which gave the English hope after having been dismissed for 43 in the first innings, and helped lay the ground for a fine victory.

After 1927, Ashton ceased to play even semi-regular county cricket, and indeed after that year he was to make only two more first-class appearances: against Northamptonshire in June 1934 and, finally, against Leicestershire in July 1936. He did very little in either game. [cite web |url=http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/15/15007.html |title=Worcestershire v Northamptonshire in 1934 |accessdate=2008-07-09 |publisher=CricketArchive] [cite web |url=http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/15/15917.html |title=Worcestershire v Leicestershire in 1936 |accessdate=2008-07-09 |publisher=CricketArchive] He did, however, play a minor single-innings game for his county against the Royal Air Force aged 47 in 1944; he was lbw for nought. [cite web |url=http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/136/136638.html |title=Worcestershire v Royal Air Force in 1944 |accessdate=2008-07-09 |publisher=CricketArchive]

Before going up to Cambridge, Ashton had been captain of the Winchester College XI. Upon leaving the school, he served in the First World War in the Royal Field Artillery; it was at this time that he won his MC. He also lost his left thumb during the war, although this was said not to have affected the quality of his fielding in later years.After retiring from playing, Ashton served as a magistrate, and was also President of Worcestershire CCC from 1967 to 1969. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Worcestershire in 1968. [LondonGazette|issue=44652|startpage=8752|date=9 August 1968|accessdate=2008-07-10]

A number of his relatives played first-class cricket: his brothers Claude and Hubert had substantial careers for Cambridge and Essex, while another brother, Percy, had one game for Essex. Two uncles, Alfred Inglis and John Inglis reached first-class level briefly in the 1880s. Finally, Ashton's brother-in-law Ralph Huband played twice for Cambridge in 1923.

Notes

References

* [http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/27/27541/27541.html Gilbert Ashton] from CricketArchive
*cricinfo|ref=england/content/player/8799.html