Right arm slow medium bowler
Canterbury
Born: 15th September 1971
An attacking batsman, Astle is known for his aggressive approach, and powerful strokeplay. He is at his best in the first 15 overs, and has smashed some of the best bowling attacks in the world to pieces.
Though he struggled for form in the 1997/98 tour of Australia, Astle returned home to star in the Bank of New Zealand Series against Zimbabwe and once again the Australian one-day team, to earn himself another test century and his fifth one-day hundred. He ended both series with marvelous averages, and earned for himself the award for Player of the Series.
Astle is also a handy part-time bowler, his figures good enough to make any bowler proud, and has taken over 50 wickets at one-day level.
His catching at second slip is also an important part of any game.
He was unlucky to be forced out of the NZ team during the 1998/99 series with a broken hand, but came back against South Africa to score 95, and later again, record his 6th one-day hundred.
At the age of 27, he still has a long and impressive career ahead of him, and a lot to contribute to the New Zealand team.