Bill Ashdown

Who was Bill Ashdown?

William Henry Ashdown was an English cricketer, and is one of the very few men who played first-class cricket before the First World War and after the Second World War.

Ashdown was born in Bromley, Kent. He first played first-class cricket in 1914, playing for Gerry Weigall's XI against Oxford University in The Parks, aged 15.

He played for Kent County Cricket Club after the First World War. He scored 39 centuries, including a highest score of 332 against Essex in 1934. He scored more than 1,000 runs in 11 seasons of county cricket. He was also successful as a bowler, taking 602 wickets at a bowling average of 32.47. He retired in 1937. However, he returned to play a final first-class match in 1947, aged 48, for Maurice Leyland's XI against the Rest of England at Harrogate when he scored 42 and 40 and took 5 for 73.

He became an umpire after retiring from first class cricket, and stood in two Tests against New Zealand in 1949 and one against the West Indies in 1950. He stepped down from the umpire's list resume his playing career as captain of Leicestershire 2nd XI until he was 55, doubling up as their coach and scorer. He died in Rugby, Warwickshire, aged 80.