William Ewart Astill (1 March 1888 – 10 February 1948) was, along with George Geary, the mainstay of the Leicestershire team from 1922 to about 1935.
The county enjoyed a useful season, but at forty-seven years of age, Astill was only a stop gap before an amateur of the required standard and availability could be found.
Astill started his career low in the batting order but emerged after the war number four or five.
Only in 1927 did he fail to take 100 wickets, but that season Astill made his highest first-class score of 164 against Glamorgan.
In 1926/27 he was a member of the party that toured India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Burma with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), playing 24 matches and taking 71 wickets.
During World War II Astill rejoined the Army but later resigned his commission on the grounds of health.