Lives in Cricket No 36 - WE Astill

101 The Tourist: ‘a Joy to Know’ his successful tour of the West Indies selectorial interest was again shown by his appearance in two matches against the Australians, for MCC and an England XI, but in three matches against the visitors (including one for Leicestershire) he took only two wickets for 158 runs in 60 overs despite the advantage of once opening the bowling with the already fearsome Harold Larwood. Nevertheless, Astill was regarded with sufficient esteem to enable him to escape a hated winter by being sent to a part of the world quite new to him.