Astle provides some welcome good news for New Zealand Cricket

Good news at last for New Zealand Cricket, ace batsman Nathan Astle does not have a tear of his patella tendon.

An MRI scan last week has revealed that the pain that forced Astle home from the tour of Pakistan before the first Test match was confined to normal wear and tear in the tendon but there was not a 'tear' of the tendon as such.

New Zealand Cricket's medical liaison expert Warren Frost told CricInfo today that Astle's condition is patella tendonosis.

"It is normal and what you would expect of a player who has been involved as Nathan has over the last few years.

"The pain that caused the initial concern has settled considerably.

"We are keeping an eye on him and loading him up and seeing how it works out.

"He is on a fairly strict programme to see the pain he is feeling and to stress the tendon a little to help it heal itself. We also have to build up strength around the tendon," Frost said.

After meeting with surgeon Paul Armour last week, Astle was told that there was no need to operate on the tendon.

Frost said there was a chance Astle could now make the West Indies tour which is scheduled to start early next month but he stressed there was "a chance but not every chance."

The work being undertaken with Frost at NZC's High Performance Centre was designed to give Astle every prospect of making the tour.

"Nathan is keen to try and get there, and he is doing everything in his powers to get there," Frost said.

Meanwhile, Jacob Oram is being monitored closely over his side strain and his chances of being available for selection are on a day-by-day basis.