He played two first-class matches for the Central Districts in the 1978–79 season.
Astle was a long-serving and influential staff member, cricket coach and Deputy Rector of Palmerston North Boys' High School, where he taught for 24 years.
[1] After that, he served as national development manager for New Zealand Cricket in Christchurch for more than 10 years.
[1] While in Christchurch he served as President of the Christchurch Metro Cricket Association, and in recognition of his service he received a Lifetime Service Award at the 2019 Sport Canterbury Awards.
[3] He was awarded a master's degree in 1975 and a PhD from Massey University in 2015, writing his doctoral thesis on the importance of the grassroots level of cricket.