Cricket: Astle promises better things

Nathan Astle

Don't be surprised to find a new, modified version of Nathan Astle opening the batting this summer.

For so long the aggressor at the top of the New Zealand innings, Astle has been reining in his stroke-making over recent months as he attempts to bed in some technical adjustments.

The veteran right-hander will play his first one-day international at home for the best part of a year on Boxing Day, when New Zealand square off against Sri Lanka in the series opener at Eden Park.

Sidelined by knee surgery after last year's World Cup, Astle has played 12 ODIs since returning during the NatWest Series in England - scoring 484 runs at 44.00, including a century and three 50s.

However, he believes with a couple of tweaks here and there, his game could be improved and expanded for good of his own career, and that of the team.

"I think I'm close to cracking a couple of things that should make me a much better player," Astle said yesterday.

"I've probably been a little more circumspect while I've been working on these things, but hopefully once I've worked them out, I'll be a much more rounded batsman."

The main points of interest were his stance, head position, subsequent foot movement, and his ability to play off the back foot.

Astle said he was anxious to supplement his traditional strength off the front foot with better options against the short-pitched delivery, and wasn't bothered that his strike-rate might take a temporary dip as a result.

"I tend to become a bit anchored and I just wanted to get moving a bit more, so I become more of a two foot player.

"But I'm feeling good. I'm just playing a little more conservatively than the Nathan Astle that most people know, but I don't think that's a bad thing.

"The upshot is that if I can suss out this side of my game, I think I'll be a more complete player."

New Zealand are favoured to begin the series strongly against Sri Lanka on Boxing Day, particularly after their tough series across the Tasman, and the fact the tourists' will head into the game without any match practice.

Sri Lanka's last dress-rehearsal for the ODI - a one-dayer against Northern Districts last night at Hamilton - was abandoned after persistent showers, as was their previous tour match against Central Districts.

The series is an especially important one for New Zealand, who could snatch the No 1 ranking and qualify for next year's Super Series if they were to beat both Sri Lanka and Australia this summer.

Astle said the prospect was an attractive one for the team.

New Zealand had an outdoors practice at the Eden Park nets yesterday during a break in the weather.

A surprise was the presence of Wellington swing-bowler James Franklin, who was added to the camp to allow the New Zealand batsmen some exposure against a left-armer.

Sri Lanka have ruled left-arm paceman Nuwan Zoysa out of Sunday's game with a dislocated finger, but still have the classy Chaminda Vaas to provide problems with his alternative angle.

The teams

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (c), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Hamish Marshall, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey, Ian Butler.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (c), Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Saman Jayantha, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof