A better all-rounder or a Swashbuckling Batsman. If we state him as a total cricketer it won't not be wrong in any manner. Nathan Astle was part of 3 World Cup campaigns for the New Zealand team while announcing his retirement just before the World Cup 2007. What ought to be an approach to remember the Career of batsman who despite holds the record of fastest Double hundred in the longest Format of game – Test Cricket.
It was Christchurch 2002, New Zealand needed to chase the total of 550 runs in the fourth Innings of the game. A quick reaction would be unquestionably difficult to chase this target. In any case, it was next to impossible when the team had 1 wicket close by with 217 runs required in the total. Nathan Astle took a gander at the total and said England this Game isn't finished at this point.
The More fascinating actuality of the match was that Chris Cairns was at that point Injured when he came in to support Nathan Astle. England fans were expecting it to be a game of scarcely 1 more Over. What's followed next was the all out bad dream for the England team and their fans.
The counter attack punch from the swashbuckling batsman Nathan Astle who took on the aerial route and Smashed The greatest hits of 21st century in actuality. Nathan Astle delivered 222 runs off 168 balls. Astle's first century came in 114 balls and the next hundred was just in 39 balls. An innings of sheer greatness and time it had come in there is no better knock in the fourth innings or will actually be.
Nathan Astle was a player ahead of its time who has written the script for the players like Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill who all having same stuff of stroke playing abilities which Astle used to have way back in his career. If you ever look back in New Zealand Cricket history especially the batting greats without a doubt Nathan Astle name would be in the list.
It was the mid of 1990s when New Zealand had great Team line-up loaded up with Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan and Chris Carins. It was not that simple for Nathan Astle to discover the spot in a Team bundle of talents. However, Astle Make his way to team and build his career from the team of talented players.
In the beginning of his Career, Astle used to bat down the order at number six or five not many of times. Not just simply with bat he was very handy with ball as well. An ideal mix of all-rounder Nathan astle was in One-day cricket. Astle debut against West Indies in 1995 but selector decided to try him bat up the order. In just the 4th match of his career against India Astle made the statement with the century – I am here to Stay critics.
Within a year 1996, Astle made his test debut against Zimbabwe. Astle has scored 4702 runs in 81 tests with many match saving performances but still there are few which rated him way cricketer par excellence. One such knock was against England in 1997, when New Zealand team had to bat four sessions to draw the test match. The match was almost over when Astle was joined by number 11 batsman Danny Morrison. Both put on 106 run partnership to draw the test match which was almost in favour of England team. While astle remained not out at 102* - the first best knock of Astle career which showed the glimpse of his batting and patience in the innings.
Nathan Astle was never given the captaincy after being explosive batsman and all-rounder. Could have been the great captain for New Zealand team in an era of Predator Aussies. But for sure history will always remember his knocks and that 222 knock will be greatest of all-time which clearly defined Nathan Astle was a player way ahead of its time.
