Bill Ashdown

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Bill Ashdown

| fullname = William Henry Ashdown

| image = Bill Ashdown c1932.jpg

| caption = Ashdown in about 1932

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1898|12|27|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Bromley, Kent

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1979|9|15|1898|12|27|df=yes}}

| death_place = Rugby, Warwickshire

| nickname =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right arm medium-fast

| club1 = Kent

| year1 = 1920–1937

| umpire = true

| testsumpired = 3

| umptestdebutyr = 1949

| umptestlastyr = 1950

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 487

| runs1 = 22,589

| bat avg1 = 30.73

| 100s/50s1 = 39/105

| top score1 = 332

| deliveries1 = 44,212

| wickets1 = 602

| bowl avg1 = 32.47

| fivefor1 = 13

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 6/23

| catches/stumpings1 = 400/1

| date = 17 April

| year = 2009

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/8793.html CricInfo

}}

William Henry Ashdown (27 December 1898 – 15 September 1979) was an English professional cricketer. He is one of a very few men who played first-class cricket before the First World War and after the Second World War.{{efn|Another was D. B. Deodhar, who played in the Bombay Triangular in 1911 and the Ranji Trophy in 1946.}}

Ashdown was born in Bromley in Kent. He first played first-class cricket in 1914, playing for Gerry Weigall's XI against Oxford University in The Parks, aged 15.Carlaw D (2020) Kent County Cricketers A to Z. Part Two: 1919–1939, pp.14–17. ([https://archive.acscricket.com/books/Kent_Cricketers_A_to_Z_Part_Two.pdf Available online] at the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 2020-12-23.) During World War I he served in a reserve battalion of the Rifle Brigade on home defence duties.Lewis P (2013) For Kent and Country, p.327. Brighton: Reveille Press. {{isbn|978-1-908336-63-7}}

Playing for Kent County Cricket Club after the First World War, Ashdown scored 39 centuries, including two triple-centuries with a highest score of 332 against Essex in 1934.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/228571.html Ashdown, William Henry], Obituaries in 1979, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, 1980. Retrieved 2020-12-23. This remains Kent's highest individual score. His second triple-century for the county was scored in 1935. He is one of only three Kent batsman to have scored a triple-century whilst playing for the county.{{efn| Sean Dickson scored 318 in 2017, Daniel Bell-Drummond scored 300* in 2023.}}Milton H (2016) "Team Records" in Reid J (ed.) 2016 Kent County Cricket Club Annual, pp. 199–202, Canterbury: Kent County Cricket Club[http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2017/content/story/1108436.html Dickson's 318 tops day of Kent records], CricInfo, 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2017-07-04. 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.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/8793.html Bill Ashdown], CricInfo. Retrieved 2020-12-23.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/27/27535/27535.html Bill Ashdown], CricketArchive. Retrieved 2020-12-23. {{subscription}} He was awarded his county cap in 1922 and retired in 1937.[https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Kent-Capped-Players-List-2019.pdf Kent County Cricket Club - Capped Male Players], Kent County Cricket Club. Retrieved 2020-12-21. 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 five wickets for 73 runs.

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.