Ewart Astill

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = Eng
name = Ewart Astill
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-handed batsman (RHB)
bowling style = Right arm off break
tests = 9
test runs = 190
test bat avg = 12.66
test 100s/50s = 0/0
test top score = 40
test balls = 2,182
test wickets = 25
test bowl avg = 34.66
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = 4/58
test catches/stumpings = 7/0
FCs = 733
FC runs = 22,735
FC bat avg = 22.55
FC 100s/50s = 15/107
FC top score = 164 not out
FC balls = 138,532
FC wickets = 2,432
FC bowl avg = 23.76
FC 5s = 140
FC 10s = 22
FC best bowling = 9/41
FC catches/stumpings = 466/0
debut date = December 24
debut year = 1927
last date = April 12
last year = 1930
source = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/0/454/454.html

(William) Ewart Astill (March 1, 1888, Ratby, Leicestershire, England – February 10, 1948, Stoneygate, Leicester, England) was, along with George Geary, the mainstay of the Leicestershire team from 1922 to about 1935. He was never a bowler of Geary's class and thus was never picked for a home Test or for the Ashes tour. However, for the best part of three decades he was a vital member of a generally struggling Leicestershire team. With no amateur able to play frequently for the county, Astill became the first officially appointed professional captain of any county for over fifty years in 1935. The county enjoyed a useful season, but at forty-seven years of age, Astill was only a stop gap before an amatueur of the required standard and availability could be found. [Gentlemen v Players Vol.II M.Marshall] He was a nephew of fast bowler Thomas Jayes, whose early illness and death proved a grievous blow to Leicestershire cricket just before the war.

Pre-1914 career

Astill began his career at the age of eighteen in 1906. He played only one match that season, but his medium-paced right-hand bowling on the treacherous pitches of the following season was so difficult that he took in county cricket 74 wickets for 16.58. The following year, Astill was Leicestershire's chief bowler with 84 wickets. His thirteen for 61 against Derbyshire on a treacherous pitch was a result he was never able to beat for twenty-five years after that. He again did well in 1909, but struggled in 1910 and 1911 and was dropped from his team.

In the wet summer of 1912, Astill regained his place but was expensive considering the favourable conditions [Wisden 1913 Leicestershire Section] , and on the firmer wickets of 1913 he could not retain his place. In 1914, he played only five matches.

War service

During the war, Astill gained a commission in the Machine Gun Corps. [History of Leicestershire Cricket Vol.1 EE Snow(1950) p.192] He played only thrice in 1919 because he was late to be demobilised as he was overseas(Snow p.247).

Great years

Astill started his career low in the batting order but emerged after the war number four or five. His maiden century in 1921 was against newly promoted Glamorgan at Swansea. He completed the double in each season from 1921 to 26, and again from 1928 to 30. He took over 150 wickets in 1921 and 144 in 1922, and his bowling, even if his action was not as high as in the 1900s, was always steady and occasionally deadly. Only in 1927 did he fail to taken 100 wickets, but that season Astill made his highest first-class score of 164 against Glamorgan. In all he took 100 wickets in nine seasons and passed a thousand runs in eleven.

Tours and test matches

Astill, was never seriously in the running for a tour to Australia [Wisden 1975 Cameos of the Nearly Great - B.Easterbrook] , but toured the West Indies with private parties during the middle 1920s, and played in five Tests on matting in South Africa in 1927/28, and four against the West Indies in 1929/1930, although he was not effective in those matches. In 1926/27 he was a member of the party that toured India, Ceylon(Sri Lanka) and Burma with the MCC, playing 24 matches and taking 71 wickets. His form declined from 1933 onwards.

Later years

Although Astill retired at the end of 1937, Leicestershire was short of effective players and he was forced to come out of retirement twice in 1938 and in 1939. During World War II Astill rejoined the Army but later resigned his commission on the grounds of health. His health subsequently declined he died in Leicester Hospital just three weeks before his sixtieth birthday. He is buried in Welford Road cemetery.

Other interests

Ewart Astill was also a champion billiards player and according to EE Snow(p.194), was a noted player of trick shots. He was also an accomplished singer and accompanist.

References

* EE Snow A History of Leicestershire County Cricket Vol 1 (Backus 1949)
* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/0/454/f_Batting_by_Season.html First-class batting statistics]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/0/454/f_Bowling_by_Season.html First-class bowling statistics]

Persondata
NAME=Astill, Ewart
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Cricketer
DATE OF BIRTH=1 March 1888
PLACE OF BIRTH=Ratby, England
DATE OF DEATH=10 February 1948
PLACE OF DEATH=Stoneygate, England