Nathan Astle named NZ Player of the Year

Nathan Astle, whose cavalier batting lit up his country's tests against Australia and England during the 2001-02 season, was named New Zealand Player of the Year at an awards dinner on Thursday.

The Canterbury batsman scored the fastest test 200 ever from just 153 balls against England in the first test in Christchurch a fortnight ago.

He finished the three-test series against England with a batting average of 62.80.

Last December, he helped set up a strong New Zealand charge for victory with 156 not out against Australia in the third test in Perth.

The swashbuckling Astle also scored a career-best 122 not out to lead New Zealand to victory in the fifth and deciding one-day international against England in Dunedin last month. New Zealand won the series 3-2.

Player of the Year Astle also won the main two New Zealand batting awards on Thursday night -- the Redpath Cup for first-class batting and the Walter Hadlee Trophy for one-day batting.

Auckland medium-fast bowler Chris Drum, who retired from test cricket after just five matches following this week's third test against England, won the Winsor Cup for the best first-class bowling in New Zealand during the season.

Mail Cricket Editor