Ashley Mallett was a former South Australian and Australian off-spinner. He played in 39 Test matches and nine One-day Internationals between 1968 and 1980.

In 91 first-class matches for South Australia he took 390 wickets at an average of 24.44, second only to Clarrie Grimmett. In 183 first-class games he claimed 693 wickets at 26.27. He was Australia's most successful off spin bowler since Hugh Trumble, who played for Australia between 1890 and 1904.

He took 8-59 at the Adelaide Oval against Pakistan in 1972-73, the best Test performance in the 20th century at that ground.

Since retiring from cricket he has been a successful coach and has written 26 books, mostly on cricket. One of his non-cricketing books is 'The Boys from St Francis, Stories of the remarkable Aboriginal activists, artists and athletes who grew up in one seaside home'.