Cricket: Astle son shines thanks to dad's help

Todd Astle is all set to play cricket again with Jacob Oram. The last time they played together, emerging national batsman Astle was eight, hitting about in the nets his father had built alongside his house.

Oram was in the Palmerston North Boys High School first XI, then coached by Astle's dad, Alec. Oram was pretty big time to a youngster growing up in a passionate cricketing household.

It seemed unlikely that the eight-year-old would one day team up with the likes of Oram. But next month, 10 years down the line, the pair will play together in the New Zealand Cricket [NZC] High Performance Centre Academy team, which will compete in a Brisbane-based Cricket Australia Emerging Players Tournament.

The pairing has come about through injury. Oram (27) has been named captain and is one of three Black Caps returning from time off due to injury. Astle (18) has been picked as a fresh-faced batting hopeful.

Oram, who has struggled with a back injury, is hoping to use the tournament as a stepping stone to full fitness, leading up to the Black Caps' Zimbabwe tour in September and a South African tour in October. Astle - no relation to Nathan - wants to make his international mark.

The trip will include a variety of matches against an Australian Institute of Sport team and an Indian Academy side.

Alec Astle won't be there to follow from the sidelines but he has also come a long way in 10 years and is now NZC's national development manager. He and his son have fond memories of the idyllic summers of cricket in Palmerston North.

Alec coached Todd's Hokowhitu primary school team in the mornings and would leave early for Palmerston North Boys High's first XI games. of which he was player/coach. 

The side played in the Manawatu senior men's competition at the same park complex and at the end of Todd's game he would bring the gear over to his father, usually arriving in time to join the warm-ups with the Palmerston North boys.

He would bowl to those preparing to bat and his bowling career looked promising. He was already bowling natural "wrong 'uns".

"His mother would come and pick him up at some stage," said Alec Astle. "But I remember he always wanted her to take her time." 

Alec Astle remembers Todd as always technically proficient with the bat. "When he was smaller he wasn't a power hitter but they couldn't get him out. As he has gotten bigger, he has added to the shots he can play."

At 18, Todd Astle already has impressive statistics behind him He has trodden a steady trail through Canterbury development ranks and has captained more than his fair share of sides, including his Christchurch Boys High first XI, the Canterbury secondary schools team, Canterbury under-17 and the Christchurch under-18 team.

He set a New Zealand under-19 record in Christchurch in 2004/2005, when he shared an opening partnership of 374 with Kieryn Ambler for Canterbury against Auckland.

The same season he scored 360 for the New Zealand under-19 team, during the New Zealand A tournament and tour of Alexandra.

Astle won the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association Young Player of the Year title this year, which entitled him to a two-year Youth Cricket Scholarship.

He was also named in the seven-strong NZ Cricket Academy intake for 2005 as an opening bat but also as a right arm leg-spin bowler.

The Academy placed a strong emphasis on spin bowling in the intake, recognising it as an area that needs development.

Wanting another string to his bow he worked with dad, as well as Gary Stead and Mike Shrimpton.

"I don't know anyone more passionate about cricket than dad," Todd said. "He's my greatest mentor."

Short term, Astle has a few exams to knock off this week for his first year of a Bachelor of Recreation Management at Lincoln University.

That will clear the way for him to concentrate on Australia next month.

His focus after that is on the New Zealand team competing in the under-19 World Cup, due to be played in Sri Lanka early next year.

Academy: Jacob Oram, Ross Taylor (Central); Graham Aldridge, Te Ahu Davis, Bruce Martin (Northern); Todd Astle, Shane Bond, Peter Fulton, Michael Papps, Hayden Shaw (Canterbury); Derek De Boorder (Auckland); Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder (Wellington).

- HERALD ON SUNDAY