On 15th September, the cricket world celebrates the birthday of one of New Zealand’s most explosive all-rounders, Nathan Astle. His remarkable feat of scoring the fastest double century in Test cricket, achieved back in 2002, remains a record that no cricketer has been able to break for the past 22 years. Astle, known for his aggressive batting style, achieved this incredible milestone before the dawn of T20 cricket, making it all the more special.
In a match against England in Christchurch, Astle smashed a double century in just 153 balls, surpassing Australia’s Adam Gilchrist, who had set the record a few weeks earlier with a 200 in 212 balls. Astle’s innings is still regarded as one of the most entertaining and aggressive knocks in the history of Test cricket, proving that explosive batting isn’t just limited to the shorter formats of the game.
Astle’s Record Stands the Test of Time, Sehwag Came Close but Fell Short
Nathan Astle’s stunning innings of 222 runs off 168 balls was not only historic but has remained an unbroken record for over two decades. Despite the advent of T20 cricket and the evolution of aggressive batting techniques, no player has been able to surpass Astle’s achievement. India’s dashing opener, Virender Sehwag, came close on four occasions but couldn’t break the record.
Sehwag’s best attempt came in 2004 when he scored a double century against Pakistan off 222 balls. He tried again in 2006 and 2008, managing to score double centuries in 182 and 194 balls, respectively. His final attempt came in 2009 when he came very close, taking just 168 balls to score a double century against Sri Lanka. However, even Sehwag, known for his aggressive play, couldn’t break Astle’s longstanding record.
Besides Sehwag, England’s Ben Stokes also made a serious attempt at the record. In 2016, Stokes scored a double century off 163 balls during a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town but fell short of Astle’s blistering 153-ball double century.
The Innings That Saved New Zealand’s Pride
Nathan Astle’s record-breaking innings came at a time when New Zealand was facing a massive defeat against England in 2002. After winning the toss and putting England in to bat, New Zealand struggled in their first innings, collapsing for just 147 runs in reply to England’s 228. In the second innings, England posted a daunting 468, leaving New Zealand to chase a mammoth 550 runs.
At 242 for 5, it seemed New Zealand was headed for a heavy defeat. However, Nathan Astle had other plans. His incredible knock of 222 off 168 balls gave the Kiwis a fighting chance. Although New Zealand eventually lost the match by 98 runs, Astle’s innings helped them avoid an embarrassing defeat and set a new record that would go on to stand the test of time.
Astle’s Stellar Cricket Career
Nathan Astle’s contribution to New Zealand cricket was immense, both as a batsman and a bowler. In his Test career, Astle scored 4,702 runs in 81 matches at an average of 37.02, while also picking up 51 wickets. In One-Day Internationals (ODIs), he was equally effective, playing 223 matches and amassing 7,090 runs at an average of 34.92. He also took 99 wickets in ODIs, cementing his reputation as one of New Zealand’s best all-rounders.
Despite his on-field success, Astle’s career was not without controversy. He was once considered for the role of team captain, but due to certain behavioural issues, the responsibility was never entrusted to him. In 2007, just weeks before the World Cup, Astle shocked the cricketing world by announcing his sudden retirement. At the time, he stated that he no longer had the motivation to continue playing the game, marking the end of an illustrious career.
An Unbreakable Record in the Era of Fast Scoring
In today’s era of fast-paced T20 cricket, players have become more aggressive, and hitting boundaries has become a frequent sight. However, despite the rise of T20 cricket and the rapid scoring trends, Nathan Astle’s record of the fastest double century in Test cricket has withstood the test of time. His innings was not just a display of power-hitting but a masterclass in resilience and timing, played at a time when T20 cricket had not yet revolutionized the sport.
Nathan Astle’s legacy in the cricketing world is forever tied to his historic double century, and while many have come close, none have been able to dethrone him from this unique place in Test cricket history. His birthday on 15th September is a reminder of the day when Astle changed the dynamics of Test cricket with his unforgettable innings, a record that remains unbroken even after 22 years.
