Fleming backs Astle to perform

No reprieve: Andre Nel nails Nathan Astle in Johannesburg © Getty Images

Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, has openly backed Nathan Astle to play in the remaining two one-dayers against South Africa, despite the batsman averaging just 5.00 on tour thus far.

Astle, holder of the New Zealand record of 15 one-day hundreds, has struggled on this trip to South Africa, and his six innings (including two warm-up games and the Pro20 match) make for unpleasant reading: 9, 0, 10, 1, 3 and 11.

Fleming, however, has kept his faith in the old guard. "He is a fine player and played very well on our last tour. For him not to feature in any opening partnership has been disappointing," Fleming was quoted as saying to stuff.co.nz, a New Zealand website. "He's our best one-day player, the record book shows that and you don't discard players just for the sake of it."

Astle's dismissals have all come to catches behind the wicket - in an arc between wicketkeeper to point - highlighting just how successfully the South African bowlers have been in cramping the otherwise free-scoring batsman. If selected for the Durban match on November 4, it will be Astle's 200th one-day international, making him only the fourth New Zealander to reach the milestone alongside Chris Harris (250), Fleming (243) and Chris Cairns (208).

Meanwhile, Hamish Marshall, another middle-order batsman struggling for form, stated that sticking to the methods that brought him success previously will help him regain form. "It's one of those situations where you just keep persevering, I suppose. I haven't tried changing too much, I've had success with what I've been doing and if I change too much it might get even worse," Marshall said. "You think it doesn't feel far away, just a shot or two or an innings and you're under way again."

Marshall was dropped for the second one-day match in Cape Town - the first time he had been benched in 41 games - but returned at Port Elizabeth to contribute just seven in a four-wicket loss. His loss of form on this tour, following a dismal series in Zimbabwe last month, has seen Marshall's average drop from 38.80 to 33.00.

Fleming has acknowledged that the New Zealand top-order shared responsibility for sluggish starts, with wickets being lost too frequently to get any early momentum under way. "We've been three or four down far too early, far too easily."

South Africa took an unassailable 3-0 lead at Port Elizabeth, and New Zealand will be looking to restore some pride in the remaining games at Durban and Centurion.