Lives in Cricket No 36 - WE Astill

24 adds that ‘Astill is a cheerful lad, and took his success with a broad smile’. He ended with an unbeaten 12 to his name. Then, as the Cuban government asked the U.S.A. for eight rapid-firing guns with American artillery men to put down the insurrection, he came into the Leicestershire attack as the third change to take ‘his first wicket [bowled], to the discomfiture of Bowell [one of the openers], who is no mean bat. Barring one four, the batsman could not force him away. He kept a fine length.’ His local paper is even more enthusiastic the following day: Astill caused them more trouble than anyone else, and beat them [A.J.L.Hill and Barrett, ‘both brilliant hitters’] numerous times … [He] bowled really splendidly; his length was perfect, and he used his head, varying his pace. It was impossible to see from the Press Box, but he must have got spin on the ball, because the batsmen repeatedly played him with the edge of the bat. The lad had hard luck. He sent down a slower ball which Llewellyn, then six, hit to leg field. Wood, usually the safest of catches, dropped the ball. Astill deserved that wicket [but his] reward was only deferred. It was meet he should capture Hill’s wicket [caught by the keeper], for he had puzzled that batsman time after time … It was a fine start for young Astill that so famous a hitter as the old Cantab could do little or nothing with his bowling. Astill next began to upset Sprot’s peace of mind. He had been on a good while now, about 50 minutes, and might have been rested had [the Leicestershire captain V.F.S.] Crawford had a man to replace him. Astill’s action, however, is delightfully easy and as he was never really punished, he could not be harmed by the spell. Sprot made a shocking stroke off him, the ball just clearing point. Hampshire’s skipper apparently meant to knock the boy off his length, but he soon gave up the attempt … after trundling nearly 90 minutes [for 32 runs] with wonderful steadiness for a recruit, Astill gave way to Coe. His analysis was two for 52 in 23 overs with six maidens, his two victims being the highest scorers in an innings total of 288. Although when he batted a second time he was soon caught and bowled by F.J.C.Wyatt for his first duck, he proceeded to have Hampshire’s other opening batsman, A.C.Johnston, caught at mid on to give him a match analysis of 32-8-76-3. He had thus, in his first match, proved three things that were to mark his career as a bowler − that he could puzzle good batsmen; that he could keep a good length to contain batsmen set on attacking him; and that he had stamina. Two days later he was selected for Leicestershire Gentlemen against Warwickshire Gentlemen at the Aylestone Road Ground. Batting at No.8 he top-scored with 36 out of 122 in the first innings and was unbeaten with 11 out of 93 in the second to give a suggestion, so wearingly long to be fulfilled, that he might develop into a batsman also; but his bowling resoundingly corroborated his achievement at Southampton, for he took the six wickets to fall on the first day, all his victims being bowled, and ended with the splendid analysis of 30-8-78-8, having all of the opposing batsmen ‘at sea’ against him. Years later ‘Crusoe’ was bemused by how the Leicestershire annual could report in the following winter that ‘no young The Prodigy