Astle returns to favour

Todd Astle wants to make the most of a lifeline he has been thrown, back in the Canterbury cricket team after being on the outer for much of the season.

Astle was named in the side yesterday for their ninth-round match against Wellington at Rangiora's Mainpower Oval, starting today.

Last weekend, all-rounder Astle was called in as a substitute for pace bowler Chris Martin and responded with a career-best haul of five for 55 with his leg spinners from 22 overs.

Astle, 23, said he had been a little surprised with the call-up, having expected Martin to complete the Canterbury game before joining the New Zealand team to prepare for the first test in Wellington.

However, Astle stepped in mid-match on Sunday and struck a quickfire 31 from 17 balls, with four fours and a six, before securing his first five-wicket bag.

Astle, a contracted player, appeared in two first-class matches and was 12th man in two others before Christmas, before slipping back to club cricket while the Wizards played their limited-over campaigns.

"I was hoping to get another go for Canterbury, but when you haven't played for a while you begin to wonder. I'd still been training hard and kept working away."

Astle said he gained some turn bowling around the wicket against Otago at Queenstown and three of his victims were left-handers.

Astle, who began his career as an opening bat but only averaged 15.93 last season, has slipped down the order this season and sees himself as a batting all-rounder.

His inclusion is one of three changes to the team. Batsman Shanan Stewart returns after making two one-day appearances last week for New Zealand against Australia, replacing Tom Latham who was 12th man in Queenstown.

Logan van Beek, who broke down with a side strain bowling in the second innings against Otago, has been replaced by Lancaster Park-Woolston left-arm pace bowler Ryan McCone.

To have any title hopes, third-placed Canterbury (28 pts) must claim maximum points from their final two matches and hope pace-setting Northern Districts (44) and Central Districts (32) falter. Northern hosts Otago (26) at Whangarei while Auckland (8) faces CD.

TEAMS

CANTERBURY (from): Peter Fulton (c), Michael Papps, Rob Nicol, Johann Myburgh, Shanan Stewart, Dean Brownlie, Kruger van Wyk, Jason Donnelly, Todd Astle, Ryan McCone, Brandon Hiini, Hamish Bennett. WELLINGTON (from): Neal Parlane (c), Stephen Murdoch, Cameron Merchant, James Franklin, Luke Woodcock, Michael Pollard, Stewart Rhodes, Chris Nevin, Joe Austin-Smellie, Andrew Lamb, Malaesaili Tugaga, Robbie Schaw.

- © Fairfax NZ News