33 Facts About Todd Astle

Todd Duncan Astle was born on 24 September 1986 and is a New Zealand cricketer who plays for the New Zealand national cricket team.

Todd Astle made his Test cricket debut for New Zealand in 2012 in Sri Lanka, but did not play another international match until 2015.

Todd Astle has since represented New Zealand in all three forms of the game, but he hasn't been able to keep a consistent place in the team in any format because of regular injury problems and competition with other spin bowlers.

In January 2020, Todd Astle announced his retirement from first-class cricket to focus on limited-overs cricket.

Todd Astle was born in Palmerston North in New Zealand in 1986, the son of first-class cricketer Alec Todd Astle, who played three top-level cricket matches for Central Districts in the 1970s.

Todd Astle began his cricket career as an opening batsman, but over time morphed into an all-rounder with his leg spin bowling.

Todd Astle opened the batting for the New Zealand under-19s in the 2006 Under-19 Cricket World Cup and did not bowl a ball.

Todd Astle finished the cup as the third-highest run-scorer, only behind future Test cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara from India and Eoin Morgan from Ireland.

Todd Astle made his debut for state side Cantebury in the first-class Plunket Shield in December 2005, and for the next four years played primarily as an opening batsman.

Todd Astle failed to make his mark for Canterbury as a batsman and wasn't able to stay in the team consistently.

In October 2019, during the Plunket Shield match against Wellington, Todd Astle became the first bowler for Canterbury to take 300 first-class wickets.

Todd Astle was first included in the New Zealand national cricket team's squad in 2012 when he was named as New Zealand's second spinner for their tour of Sri Lanka in 2012.

Todd Astle made his Test debut for the Blackcaps against Sri Lanka on 25 November 2012.

Todd Astle scored 35 runs in the second innings in a key partnership with Ross Taylor of 107.

Todd Astle took his first wicket in the second innings by removing Prasanna Jayawardene.

Todd Astle took four wickets in the first innings and seven wickets in the second innings to finish with eleven for the match.

Todd Astle made his Twenty20 International debut on 15 January 2016, and played in the first two matches of the three-match series.

Todd Astle didn't take any wickets and conceded 41 runs from 4 overs across the two matches, so ahead of the final match he was released from the national squad and returned to playing for Canterbury.

Todd Astle became one of the best players in New Zealand's domestic cricket competitions, both in limited overs cricket and in the Plunket Shield, which gave him opportunities to play more international cricket matches for New Zealand.

Todd Astle was the only specialist spin bowler named to play in a two-Test series against Pakistan.

Todd Astle's selection received praise from Pakistan's coach, Mickey Arthur, who said that Astle was an "interesting choice" and an "attacking spinner".

Todd Astle played in the first Test of the series, the second of his career, but didn't score any runs and only bowled four overs.

Todd Astle was part of a New Zealand A squad for a tour of India in 2017, and he was the team's best bowler.

In October 2017, Todd Astle was named in New Zealand's One Day International squad for their series against India, giving him a chance to make his ODI debut, but during a warm-up match against the Indian Presidents XI he tore his groin just three deliveries into his bowling spell.

Todd Astle was ruled out due to his injury and pulled from the squad.

Todd Astle returned home, and once fit again he played his 100th first-class match for Canterbury and was able to re-join the New Zealand ODI squad against the West Indies.

Todd Astle finally made his ODI debut for New Zealand on 20 December 2017.

Todd Astle's first ODI series was a successful one: on debut he took 3 wickets for 33, using his wrong 'un well and rarely bowling a poor ball, then in the 2nd ODI he scored 49 runs as part of a 130-run partnership with Henry Nicholls, New Zealand's highest ever sixth-wicket partnership against the West Indies.

Todd Astle was one of three spinners, along with Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi, named in New Zealand's squad for a series against Pakistan, and ahead of the series he played tour matches in the United Arab Emirates for New Zealand A to prepare and fight for a spot in the team.

Todd Astle was initially only expected to miss the first ODI against Pakistan, but he was later ruled out of the tour altogether and forced to return home early.

In November 2019, Todd Astle was named in New Zealand's Test squad for their Test series against Australia.

Todd Astle played in the third Test of the series, taking 3 wickets overall in the match.

Todd Astle was named in New Zealand's T20I squad for their T20I series against Bangladesh.