Nathan Astle’s heroics had the whole cricket world gasping today as reaction set in to what was, and ever will be, one of the outstanding individual achievements in cricket history

Lynn McConnell17-Mar-2002Nathan Astle’s heroics had the whole cricket world gasping today as reaction set in to what was, and ever will be, one of the outstanding individual achievements in cricket history.His world record-breaking double century has captured the imagination of writers in attendance and word of his feats dominated sports pages around the world.A sample of some of the reaction follows:The Sunday Times: “Relief was etched deep on the weary faces of the England players as they danced around the middle of Lancaster Park and hugged each other with delight. Rarely can a team have so joyously celebrated a victory by the apparently comfortable margin of 98 runs after leaving the opposition the apparently impossible task of scoring 550 to win.”But this was no ordinary match and no ordinary day.”Arguably, there has never been another like it. Such was the mayhem wrought by Nathan Astle in perhaps the most remarkable display of calculated hitting ever seen at this level that another hour of carnage from his bat – and an hour of the day remained when he was out – might have been enough to steal for New Zealand one of the greatest victories in Test history.”Given that New Zealand still required 249 to win when their eighth wicket fell – and nobody was sure that the injured Chris Cairns would even come out to bat – it sounds preposterous to say such a thing. But it was the case.”When it comes to Astle’s knock, the figures speak for themselves. He simply hit the record for the fastest double-century in Test history, set just three weeks ago by Australia’s Adam Gilchrist in Johannesburg, for six. Gilchrist had required 212 balls to reach 200 against South Africa; Astle needed just 153 here. His final score of 222 occupied 168 balls and included an astonishing 11 sixes and 28 fours.”The Sunday Telegraph: “However many spots Nathan Astle knocked off the gloss, England’s 98-run victory was still highly commendable and maintained the revival which this new-look team began in India.”England scrapped as fiercely as young dogs to overcome the handicap of batting first on a pitch that was far too damp and green at the start, and they saw off New Zealand’s puppies when they threatened to become too playful at the end.”It was not an entirely satisfactory victory though, for all the spectacular entertainment. It wasn’t an entirely satisfactory match either, because of the ostentatious umpiring of Billy ‘aren’t-I-a-character’ Bowden and the plain bad umpiring of Asoka de Silva, who is either tired or starting to believe the publicity about being the best in the world.”The quality of New Zealand’s seam bowling, once Chris Cairns was injured out of the series, was also below county, let alone Test, standard.”The unsatisfactory part about England’s victory was that it was the work of a handful of individuals. Nasser Hussain in the first innings, Graham Thorpe and Andrew Flintoff in the second, scored most of the runs (nobody else reached 35); and Andrew Caddick and Matthew Hoggard took 17 of the wickets.”The Observer: “This drop-in pitch allowed no one in the stands to drop off. On both of the first two days, 11 wickets fell; on both of the last two days, 433 runs were scored. Have these two sides no feeling for the traditions of the game? England’s Test matches in New Zealand are supposed to be dour, dreary affairs conducted on rugby grounds where the ball double-declutches upon landing. Not any longer. Much more of this and the locals may even deign to turn up for Test cricket in this country. Without the arrival of so many English tourists, the Jade Stadium would have had all the atmosphere of a morgue for four days. As it is the English punters can’t believe their luck.”For many, Astle’s stunning hitting overshadowed the result – until they saw the faces of the two captains afterwards. Stephen Fleming, so upbeat before the match, was glum. He confessed to ‘mixed emotions’, marvelling at Astle’s individual effort, but despairing at a Test ‘of so many missed opportunities’. He reflected sadly: ‘In my time [as captain] we have never missed so many chances.’ Of course, one of those chances was spurned on Friday by Astle himself when Graham Thorpe, who suddenly seems to have hit a pedestrian double century, was on four. It may be a cruel observation, but ultimately that drop had a more significant bearing on the match than Astle’s sublime hitting yesterday.”The Independent on Sunday: “England outplayed New Zealand for all but an hour of this Test to go 1-0 up in the series, but it will be that 60 minutes, when Nathan Astle laid waste to England’s attack to score the fastest double century of all time, that may yet have the greatest bearing on how this three-match series ends.”Nasser Hussain’s team will deservedly take great pride in winning the match, but when your best bowlers are treated like golf balls at a driving range, a gnawing fallibility works its way in. If he is doing his job, the England captain will rationalise that this was a freak of nature borne of a hopeless situation, and tell his bowlers to put it behind them.”But bowlers, especially fast ones, have macho egos and neither Matthew Hoggard (whose first two overs with the new ball cost 41 runs) and Andy Caddick (who went for 25 in an over) will get over the carnage visited upon them easily, especially when Astle wanders out to bat. Hussain knew as much too, and it was significant that he quickly replaced Caddick with Ashley Giles before the scarring went too deep.”Sunday Mirror: “One of the greatest innings in the history of cricket by Nathan Astle couldn’t deny England victory in this crazy Test match.”Nasser Hussain’s men held their nerve as Astle smashed his way into the record books with the quickest ever double century.”Astle’s fightback as New Zealand chased a target of 550 for what would have been the greatest victory of all time made England sweat before he edged Matthew Hoggard to wicketkeeper James Foster.”England eventually won by 98 runs but it left skipper Hussain wondering just how many runs he needs to put on the board to see off the Kiwis in the second Test.”He said: ‘Perhaps I’ll need to set them 900 to win next time – it’s a frightening thought.'”Sunday People: “Nathan Astle set the Jade Stadium alight with the fastest double hundred in Test history but Nasser Hussain kept his cool as England took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.”Captain Naz summed up a dramatic opening Test saying: ‘If you can lose the toss and be nought for two in the first over then go on and win a Test match, it shows the of character of our side.'””Astle smashed the world record for the fastest Test double hundred by 59 balls, beating Adam Gilchrist’s effort off 212 balls against South Africa last month.”The Kiwi clobbered England for 222, hitting 28 fours and 11 sixes off 168 balls, before being the last man out as England claimed a 98-run victory.”Astle went berserk after passing his century with his second hundred coming off just 39 deliveries with Andy Caddick twice hit out of the ground.”The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney): “Ian Botham’s record for the fastest double century in Test cricket lasted 20 years before Australia’s Adam Gilchrist beat it. Gilchrist lasted only three weeks at the top.”Yesterday in Christchurch, New Zealand’s Nathan Astle didn’t just trump Gilchrist’s record, he obliterated it with a brutal assault on the England attack at Jade Stadium.”Astle took just 153 balls to score his 200 in a performance that almost defied belief. With 28 fours and 11 sixes, he reached his double century in 59 balls less than Gilchrist.”He was eventually the last man out for 222 as England won the first Test by 98 runs but the result was virtually lost against the background of Astle’s performance.”It was a brilliant display, albeit too late to alter the result of the match, but it did ensure the margin of defeat was respectable.”Reuters: “Nathan Astle made England twitch with a record-breaking 222 as New Zealand fought to get 550 runs for victory in the first test in Christchurch on Saturday.”While the chase for the mammoth winning total was in vain, Astle’s maelstrom of an innings beat Australian Adam Gilchrist’s record for the fastest double century recorded in Johannesburg three weeks ago.”Astle beat Gilchrist’s 212-ball 200 by 59 balls. The 200th run came when he swept Ashley Giles backward of square for a single off the 153rd ball of his innings.”He said England’s players got very nervous as the runs kept coming.”‘They were starting to get a bit worried,’ said Astle. ‘You could see they were starting to strain a little bit on the face and get a little bit twitchy.'”