Top NZ Cricket Player Profiles

Feature Black Cap Player Profile

N.J.Astle

Nathan John Astle was born in Christchurch on the 15th of September, 1971. Up until the summer of 1994/95, Nathan Astle was reguarded in many circles as a bowler who could bat. However, by the end of that season he had transformed his cricketing career. He started that season with a first-class batting average of 24.25 and a respectable bowling average of 34.50 from 16 matches and in NZ's provincial One-Day competition, the Shell Cup, he had a batting average of 23.22 and an excellent bowling record of 25 wickets at 22.12 from 24 matches with a great economy rate of just 2.62 r.p.o. and eventually found himself batting at no.8 in Canterbury's Shell Cup final victory. During the forthcoming season(94/95), it was as a batsmen where he made his mark, in the Shell Cup season he scored 356 runs at a much improved average of 44.50, and in the Shell Trophy(New Zealand's first-class competition) he amassed 663 runs at 55.25 including a maiden first-class century of 175. In his very next innings he smashed 191 off 205 balls(including 4 successive 6's off Wellington off-spinner Jason Wells) and right then, for the first time the national selectors had considered him of international class. He was rewarded with his first ODI cap on 22/1/95 against the might West Indies. After a fluent 25 off 23 balls batting at 6 in his first ever international he failed in the rest of the 3 match-series and was dropped. And as NZ were preparing to play the 2nd ODI match against Sri Lanka later in the home summer, something happened. Mark Greatbatch was injured and Nathan was recalled and thrust into the opening role for the first time, at a few hours notice. He batted beyond his depth(at the time) to score 95 runs and now Nathan Astle was well and truly set on the international stage. Since that time, Nathan Astle has never looked back and is now one of the best opening batsmen in the world. He has also established a test middle order spot. PROFILE Province:Canterbury.

Best thing about being a cricketer:The travel, meeting people and seeing alot of different places.

Worst Thing:Being away from his girlfriend.

Best placed toured:South Africa.

Worst Place:Sri Lanka.

Best piece of clothing owned:Caterpillar boots.

Other sports enjoyed:Golf, rugby and tennis.

Good motto for life:To enjoy it to the fullest.

Ambition:Succeed in whatever I do and enjoy life as much as I can.

D.L.Vettori

Young Daniel Vettori burst onto the International scene in January of 1997, when he was plucked out of obscurity after just 2 First-Class matches. At 18 he became the youngest New Zealand player in Test-Match history and upon his arrival he looked extremely classy. Although he only picked up 2 for 97, he displayed a unique ability to control his flight from the very first ball he bowled and drew immediate attention, as the whole world new he was going to be our next cricketing "Great". He hasn't come on so well in his One-Day International career, but has learned alot in Australia in the past summer. He has worked on his leg stump line no end and has brought his economy rate down from well over a hundred to just below 80 through his 23 ODI's to date. He doesn't have a great record in that form of cricket but his Test-Match figures are ever improving, he now has 52 wickets in 14 Test-Matches at an average of 30.29. Province:Canterbury.