Astle's driving on a different track

Not content with holding the record for the fastest Test double-century, Nathan Astle is satisfying his need for speed in the world of sprint car racing. Astle, who retired four years ago, makes his debut at the Ruapuna Speedway near Christchurch on November 20 - just five months after getting into the sport. His bond with the race track goes back some time - he would accompany his father to Ruapuna - but the racing took a back seat as his cricket took off. Freed from such obligations now, he's acting out his dream - and an expensive one at that, with Astle investing NZ$13,000 (US$10,000). His kids are happy, his coach is bullish on his prospects, and, though his mum is a bit worried, the son seems to be in his element. "When you're out there you forget what's around you and you kind of feel how fast you do go. You don't have time to think. You are down the straight and you're into the corner and same again. It's just having your wits around you." Deja vu, then, for the man who scored a century against Brett Lee in Perth.