Astle, who has been out of top cricket since returning from the tour of India last October for treatment, has been easing his way back by playing club matches over the last two weeks.

Astle hopes to be fit for the six one-dayers and three-Test series against the touring South Africans beginning next month.

The highlight of his career so far is probably the 222 against England in the first Test at Christchurch in 2002 when he scored a record double century in 153 balls.