Astle unlikely to play ODIs against South Africa

Nathan Astle's participation in the one-day series against South Africa was in doubt after he failed a fitness test ahead of the State Shield final between Canterbury and Central Districts at Christchurch.

Astle, New Zealand's most prolific one-day batsman, had been expected to play in the Shield final, and also in an Inter-Island game on Sunday, to determine whether his knee could stand up to the strain of a five-match one-day series against South Africa.

Astle was diagnosed as having cartilage damage in his right knee, and barring a remarkable recovery, he appears certain to miss the series, which begins with a match in Auckland on February 13.

He will consult a specialist, and will know by Monday whether he requires surgery, which would sideline him for two to five weeks. "I think if the news isn't good on Monday, I'll opt for the surgery immediately," he said. "It's too much of a deadline the other way. I really want to go to England [in May]. I want to be completely fit, and the biggest thing for me is to return at 100%."

"I don't want to hobble through the series against South Africa," he added. "I'd rather get everything sorted and then go back."

Astle had to leave New Zealand's tour of India after the Test series in September because of an injury to his left knee. The current problem, on the right side, flared up only last week, and is particularly bad news for New Zealand ahead of a challenging series against a South African side that has just demolished West Indies in both Tests and one-dayers.