“I want to open” says Astle

Nathan Astle has said he wants to open the batting for the Black Caps and would rather not bat in the middle order.

Astle has New Zealand’s best ever record as an opening batsman with 16 hundreds to his name from 218 one-day internationals.

With Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum now being used as opening batsmen and James Marshall in reserve, it could prove unlikely however that Astle is to move back into an opening batting spot within the team.

Astle did however say that he will bat wherever he is needed and had not heard where he will be batting in the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka in Hamilton on 9th January.

Astle also commented on the shocking batting performance on Saturday saying the players and management had been using computer analysis and other information to assist them in fixing the batting woes.

The five match series is currently tied 2-2 with one match to play.