Cricket: Astle glad to give McGrath his rest-up

Daniel Vettori at practice at Eden Park this week. Picture / Getty Images

Don't expect to find Nathan Astle complaining about the absence of Glenn McGrath in today's Chappell-Hadlee one-dayer at Eden Park.

Although McGrath's omission from the three-match series has provoked a variety of comment on both sides of the Tasman, Astle says he's only too happy to be facing an Australian attack without the champion paceman.

"They've got a lot of cricket coming up, he's one of their key players, and they have to rest him occasionally; it's a fact of life," he said yesterday.

"There's a lot of players who do get a spell these days purely because of the intensity of the schedule, and obviously McGrath is one player that you'd want to take extra care of."

But Astle, who experienced a nightmarish run of low scores in the series against South Africa, said it stood to reason that McGrath's absence could only leave a substantial hole in the Australian attack, at the very least in terms of international experience.

Gone from the Australian attack who whitewashed New Zealand at home last summer are McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz, leaving Astle sensing an opportunity against a new-look and untried combination.

He said although Brett Lee would be as menacing as usual, the new support crew of Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark and Mick Lewis didn't carry quite the same reputation, and would be under extra pressure to establish themselves at ODI level.

"I think Glenn's absence will put more pressure on Lee because they tend to bowl very well together in tandem, and it will be interesting to see how he operates on this occasion.

"As far as we're concerned, with McGrath not there and a couple of less experienced players included instead, we think we might get a little more to hit. It could work in our favour a little."

Astle said the New Zealanders had talked about Lee's key role and the problems that could be caused if the Australian spearhead was neutralised early in the contest, piling even more pressure on the attack's less experienced members.

"But having said that, I'm sure the guys coming in are good enough to adapt to the demands of international cricket."

As for his own lack of form in South Africa and the ignominious 4-0 series loss, he said the team had taken everything of value from the exercise and was now determined to condemn it to the past.

"We were very disappointed with how things went in South Africa. We went over there with high hopes ... but it didn't work out.

"If we dwell on it, we'll just get ourselves into even more trouble."

Now the team's stand-in vice-captain, Astle said the absence of Stephen Fleming and the promotion of new skipper Daniel Vettori had been an interesting time, and that the team was adopting a positive attitude towards the change of guard.

"He's done a good job since he's come in," said Astle.

"He's stamped his authority on the team and has spelt out how he'd like it to work. If he needs any help he knows I'm here, but he's got everything under control."



Teams

Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich, Brad Hodge, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Cameron White (supersub).

New Zealand (from)
Daniel Vettori (c), Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond, James Franklin, James Marshall, Chris Martin.