Nathan Astle- The Kiwi who flew high

 

When a young Nathan Astle joined Christchurch’s reputed Shirley Boys High School, little did he knew that the decision of his parents to sent him to single sex institution will make him an international star one day, the discipline that he inculcated in his life contributed a lot in the success he earned at international arena

 

It was morning of 29^th March 1995, when Captain Ken Rutherford and Coach Jhon F.Reid were in deep thinking mode; they had lost their regular opener Mark Greatbach and had to face Sri Lanka in 2^nd One day International at Seddon Park. After great deliberation they took on a decision which later on changed the face of New Zealand’s fifty over Cricket. They asked Canterbury’s middle order batsman Nathan Astle, who was just 3 matches old, to open the innings. Astle was himself surprised, he use to play at no.6 for Canterbury and was a useful medium pace bowler. The experiment worked as Astle racked up an impressive 95 of 137,the missed out on the century but helped his side won a crucial series in a disappointing centenary season where they had almost lost everything.

                                   Nathan Astle was centre of success in 90s and early 2000s' 

Nathan Astle was only 19 years old when he made his First Class debut for Canterbury against Central Districts at New Plymouth in January of 1992, a time when whole of country was going crazy for World Cup, which was just a month away.Astle was only a useful batsman who batted at no.7 and bowled miltary medium pace, with failure in first couple of season, he was nowhere near the international debut but his success in 1994-95, Shell Cup where he amassed 663 runs at 55.25 brought him in limelight. His blistering 191 of just 205 balls against Wellington nailed his spot for series against West Indies. It was high scoring game played at Lancaster Park where Wellington won the match chasing 475 runs with Martin Crowe scoring 193 of just 179 balls.

Astle's smashed an epic double hundred in March 2002

 The 1994-95 Centenary seasons ended in a great disappointment for New Zealand as team was overhauled with Lee Germon and Glenn Turner taking over the reins. A number of old guards were sent packing and fresh faces took over. Astle only 24 became regular opener and was taken on a tough Indian tour, while he made 200 runs in 5 matches at 40.00 but it was his hundred at Nagpur in 5^th Match that ensured Turner and Germon that he was one for long run.

From then on Nathan Astle became an important cog in New Zealand’s team. In 1996 World Cup he couldn’t muster much runs but his hundred in opener of the tournament against England helped New Zealand gain a crucial win. Three months later on a difficult tour to Caribbean he scored hundreds this time in Tests, NZ did lost the series but held their head high with the spirit the young team showed. This was a crucial chapter in Astle’s career as well, Glenn Turner had turned him into a solid Test batsman.

Astle was more than useful bowler 

Few Months later Astle one of the best innings of his Test career, while he is mainly remembered for his explosive double hundred at Christchurch in 2002 , his innings of 106* was no less important, especially when it saved New Zealand from a certain defeat. England toured New Zealand in early 1997 for a three Test series. On the last day of the 1^st Test New Zealand were trailing England by 131 in 1^st innings were 142-9 (New Zealand 390 and England 521). There was almost 50-55 over’ of play left when Danny Morrison joined Astle. In next 4 hours Astle and Morrison did the unthinkable, they battled out 44.2 over (266 balls) to ultimately script a fairytale escape. The pair added 106* of 266 balls and defied the entire trick used by English skipper Michael Atherton to break the partnership. While Morrison made a dogged 14 of 133 balls, Astle hit a magnificent 102* of similar number of deliveries.

Astle was one of the best ODI batsman of his generation

Few years later Astle made two memorable hundreds within a span of three months, first against the legendry Australian team at Perth in November 2001 and then few months later he smashed England to all corners of Jade Stadium in one of the greatest innings ever played in history of the game during his magnificent 222 of just 168 balls.

In spite of his solid Test record, Astle was more popular for his limited over exploits, whether it was his hundred against India at Nagpur (1995) or against a quality Pakistani attack at Mohali (1997) or against South Africa at Auckland (1999), Astle proved to be best New Zealand batsman in limited over cricket during 90s and through out first decade of this century (1995-2010). He was an important cog in New Zealand’s revival after an era of disappointment in mid 1990s (1992-1997) and helped New Zealand achieve number of milestone, winning ICC Champions trophy in 2000, was one of them.

New Zealand achieved number of success with Astle at the top

During Stephan Fleming captaincy, Astle formed an important trio with Fleming and Astle. It was an era when New Zealand drew series in Australia in 2001-02, Whitewashed India in 2002-03 and won series in England in 1999. Astle played in Three World Cups (1996, 1999 and 2003) and was expected to play the fourth one in Caribbean when all of sudden he retired mid way during triangular series in Australia sighting lack of desire to continue. By then Astle had played 12 years of International Cricket and was respected worldwide.

Astle played 81 Tests and scored 4702 runs at 37.02 with 11 centuries, he is seventh highest scorer for New Zealand. In ODIs he scored 7090 runs in 223 games at 34.92, which is third highest among New Zealanders, he also scored 16 hundreds which was New Zealand record at the time of his retirement.

Post retirement, Astle had developed new passion of car racing and he now runs baby care  centre with his wife Kelly Astle and lives far from the hustle and bustle of international cricket.

 Nathan Astle - Career in Pictures 

After being awarded Man of Tour in 2002 against England