Cricket: Astle and McMillan serve up big-hit double

By RICHARD BOOCK

Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan have a habit of doing things together.

The New Zealand middle-order batsmen went to the same Christchurch school, played for the same club side, went on to represent Canterbury and ended up dating sisters from the same family.

And yesterday, they contributed to one of New Zealand's best days of the 2000-2001 summer when they scored long-awaited centuries to give their side the upper hand in the cricket test against Zimbabwe.

Under pressure from the selectors after a mediocre series in South Africa, Astle and McMillan posted a record New Zealand fifth-wicket partnership of 222, leaving their team well placed at 475 for six at the end of the second day's play in Wellington.

McMillan's century was his fourth, and he ended with 142 runs.

Astle's was New Zealand's fourth-slowest century. It was the sixth time he has reached the milestone, and was out for 141.

It was the first time either player had scored a century since last year.

That occasion was also a dual triumph, as they both managed the feat in the same innings against England at Manchester.

Astle and McMillan went to Shirley Boys High School and later played for the East Shirley club and Canterbury.

Astle is married to Kelly Winter, and McMillan goes out with her sister, Cherie.

Last night, Astle avoided the spotlight, apparently because he was too tired to speak.

But McMillan said it had been a special time for the pair, particularly after questions had been raised about their future.

"There's always pressure at test level, but Nath and I seem to have copped it the most lately, so there was certainly some extra satisfaction in today's effort," he said.

"The best way to answer your critics is to score heavily, and hopefully that score will keep a few people quiet for the next few weeks. It was good to prove a few people wrong."

McMillan was not willing to explain his bizarre hand signals after bringing up the milestone, saying: "That was just a personal thing and I don't want to delve into it."

He said he believed the media had unfairly criticised his and Astle's recent performances, although most of the questions had been raised by the convener of selectors, Sir Richard Hadlee.

"I think we've got proven test records," McMillan said. "We've shown today that we're cricketers who can play at this level."