OLD CRICKETER DEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 129, 2 June 1934, Page 5

OLD CRICKETER DEAD

DAVID ALEXANDER ASHBY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Tho death occurred this morning of one of the oldest and best-known cricketers in Canterbury Province, Mr. David Alexander Ashby, at tho age of 82. It was his proud boast that a record established in 1878 is still unbroken. He and Billy Frith bowled a strong Auckland representative eleven on its homo ground for 13 runs, 8 of which were byes. Tho late Mr. Ashby was born at Beddington, Surrey, in 1852, and first played cricket for the Croydon amateurs. He graduated to county cricket and played for Surrey for several seasons. He played for All England Colts against England when he -was only 10 years old. Ho came to New Zealand when he was 23, and soon took a prominent part in Canterbury cricket, playing in representative games for a period of years. Ho represented the province against various English sides and against Murdoch's Australian team in tho historic match of 1878, in which tho visitors were beaten by Canterbury by six wickets. Later ho" visited Melbourne with a. Canterbury team which won three matches out of six against tho leading clubs.