Lancashire player number 75 - Ashworth, John Thomas by Don Ambrose

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Player:

JT Ashworth

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Lancashire 1871-73
Born 27.2.1850 New Hall, Haslington.
Died 20.10.1901 Werneth, Oldham.

 

A middle order batsman who played with great success for the Rochdale and Castleton clubs. On 2nd to 4th July 1868 he played for Rochdale against the Australian Aboriginal team, scoring 0 and 5.

 

He is recorded as a member of the committee of the Rochdale Club from 1867 until 1872. In 1870 he was one of the Rochdale members who helped to form the new club at Castleton, and it was for that club that he mostly now played, although he would occasionally turn out for Rochdale. It was in fact as a member of the Rochdale team that he made his highest recorded score of 105 in July 1870, when Rochdale totalled 394 against Todmorden.

 

On Wednesday 26th July Rochdale defeated Manchester by 49 runs, Ashworth scoring 52 not out.

 

Shortly after this, on the 3rd and 4th August, at Old Trafford, he played his first match for the county, against Kent, when he scored 19, batting at fifth wicket down, in Lancashire's victory by an innings and 14 runs.

 

On 19th to 21st June 1873 he played for Twenty-two of Rochdale against the All England XI, being run out in the first innings for 4 and retiring hurt in the second innings without scoring.

 

On the 30th June and 1st July 1873 he played his second and last match for Lancashire, against Yorkshire, when he opened the innings and scored 0 and 9, being bowled by Tom Emmett both times.

 

The following year he again played for Twenty-two of Rochdale against the All England XI, this time appearing towards the end of the batting order and scoring 0 and 3.

 

The only John T. Ashworth that can be found in the 1881 Census lives at 95 Harwood Street, Over Darwen, aged 31, a cotton weaver, with his wife Mary A., aged 33 born at Horwich, a cotton weaver and son Walter aged 11, also a cotton weaver. The trouble is that John is stated at be born at Wiswell-in-Barrow, near Clitheroe. Could this be the right man?

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)