Cricket: Fulton, Astle back for Canterbury

New Zealand batting heroes Peter Fulton and Nathan Astle will be straight back into action for Canterbury in their State Shield cricket match against Central Districts in Christchurch tomorrow.

Canterbury coach Dave Nosworthy today named Fulton, who scored his maiden one-day international century against Sri Lanka in Napier yesterday, and Astle in his squad of 12.

Fulton was New Zealand's find of the series, scoring 264 runs from four innings at an average of 88.

Astle scored a match-winning 90 not out for NZ in the second ODI in Christchurch, before being sensationally dropped from the side for the next match.

Fellow Canterbury Black Caps Chris Cairns, Brendon McCullum and Shane Bond have been rested.

Canterbury: Chris Harris (captain), Nathan Astle, Michael Papps, Peter Fulton, Craig McMillan, Shanan Stewart, Iain Robertson, Paul Wiseman, Carl Anderson, Brent Findlay, Leighton Burtt, Steve Cunis.

- NZPA