Cricket: Astle determined to play

By RICHARD BOOCK

Nathan Astle is determined to play for Canterbury in a practice match today, despite more injury problems.

Sidelined since October while rehabilitating his ever-troublesome left knee, Astle had an MRI scan on his right knee yesterday after reportedly noticing "something unusual."

The results of the scan are due to be reviewed by a specialist and discussed with Astle and New Zealand Cricket medical staff tomorrow, with a view to making the findings public on Friday.

Whatever the results, Astle is still determined to turn out for today's practice match against the New Zealand under-19 side, and spent much of yesterday in the nets preparing for his comeback.

New Zealand's most successful one-day batsman, with 13 centuries, Astle played his most recent match at the end of New Zealand's World Cup campaign last March, at which point he returned home for surgery.

The 32-year-old right-hander was cleared to play on last year's tour of India, but noticed more discomfort during the preliminary games and was forced to return home at the end of the test series.

If yesterday's scan reveals no serious problem, Astle will probably also play for Canterbury in the State Shield final on Friday, and will then make a decision on his availability for the inter-island game on Sunday.

Astle is tipped to make his international comeback in the first one-dayer against South Africa, which will coincidentally be played on one of the year's most unlucky days, Friday the 13th.

Everything going well, he will then set out to bolster his record against South Africa, which features a modest batting average of 24.23, just one century, and until his unbeaten half-century in the World Cup, seven consecutive scores of fewer than 10.

Blossoming seam bowler Daryl Tuffey will play for the North Island on Sunday, despite having not fully recovered from a knee injury suffered at the end of the Pakistan series.

NZC officials said Tuffey had been making good progress and, although not yet 100 per cent, was confident of coming through the 50-over match without incident.