Lives in Cricket No 36 - WE Astill

97 clearly suited Astill. 182 In the third match, at the Bourda, while he took but a single wicket he scored, despite the mosquitos, his second fifty of the series, 51 at No.6, and with Lionel Tennyson was largely responsible for MCC avoiding an innings defeat, and indeed, with the subsequent aid of torrential rain that converted the ground into a lake, depriving West Indies of a victory and a share of the series. 183 He had indubitably justified his selection, for without his contributions West Indies would probably have won by one match to none with two drawn. Shortly after the second match Lord Harris observed that ‘Astill had done just what was expected of him by proving a very successful bowler and a good all-round cricketer’. 184 His captain declared, at the end of the tour, that ‘Astill was the best bowler on the side: he turned the ball both ways and was especially good on the matting wicket … [Kilner], Astill (who also batted well) and Hammond were three very good all-round men’. 185 For the tour as a whole Astill took the second most wickets, and his place as fourth highest run-scorer was achieved in the last game against Jamaica in Kingston. In reply to the home team’s 445 for nine declared MCC closed 182 The matting was removed every night and the clay lightly sprinkled with water every morning. 183 This followed a smaller partnership in the second match against Barbados, when Astill and Calthorpe grimly played out time to save the match. 184 The Cricketer (Spring Annual 1926, p 64) quoting from the Trinidadian Sporting Chronicle account of an interview with Harris at Port of Spain. 185 The Cricketer , 1 May 1926, p 12. The Tourist: ‘a Joy to Know’ Astill is pictured with Percy Holmes after their game-saving partnership of 327 for the fifth wicket against Jamaica in Kingston - the highest partnership of Astill’s career.