New Zealand's Nathan Astle Showcases T20 Potential 3 Years Ahead of Invention; Fastest 200 Achieved in Just 39 Balls after 114-ball Century

The fearless batsman hung up his international cricket boots in 2007, but his legacy lives on with the fastest double century in Test cricket history - just 153 balls. Despite playing a memorable innings, it ended in a losing effort. It was on this very day, 23 years ago, when Astle lit up the cricketing world with his incredible performance against England in Christchurch in 2002. Facing a daunting target of 550 runs, the right-handed batsman took on the challenge single-handedly with his explosive 222-run knock. With 28 fours and 11 sixes, he dominated the opposition in just 168 balls at the crease.

The extraordinary thing about that incredible knock was the acceleration between 100 to 200. He completed his century in 114 balls, then just put his foot on the accelerator and shifted it to the top gear and converted 200 in 153 balls. He took just 39 balls to score the elevate from 100 to 200. He showed the cricketing world a glimpse of T20 cricket three years before its inception.

Astle's knock went in vain

New Zealand were nine down for 333 and then Astle went all guns blazing after the English bowling attack comprised of Andy Caddick, Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Flintoff and Ashley Giles. The way he was hammering the England bowlers all around the park made it seem like New Zealand might pull off a miracle, but in the end, Hoggard dismissed him for 222. He shared a 118-run standoff 69 balls for the 10th wicket with Chris Crains but, in New Zealand, fell short of 98 runs.

With the 11 maximums during his knock, he is still amongst the list of elite players who have scored 10-plus sixes in a Test innings.

Astle expressed shock that he still holds the record for the fastest double century in Test cricket.

The man himself is quite surprised to see the record stand in this age of fast-paced Test cricket. “The way the game is played today, (surprising that) it has not been knocked over. It is a lot more attacking these days and the pace of the game has changed. That is why I’m quite fond of the fact that it (the record) has lasted as long as it has,” Astle told the Weekend Sport podcast on Newstalk ZB a couple of years back.

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