Picture cricket legend Nathan Astle, and the image that springs to mind is of the batsman in full Black Caps regalia, wearing a concentrated frown as he takes aim at the ball. Well, these days, he’s still dealing with bats and balls – but there are 98 kids on his team. Earlier this year, the retired middle order batsman made a life-changing career move – he bought a childcare centre in Christchurch.

Nathan says he’d been toying with the idea of owning a business, maybe a pub or a café, for a while, but stepping down from cricket and spending more time with his family – wife Kelly (35), son Liam (6) and daughter Alyssa (4) – planted the seed of an idea in his head.

“I spent just over a year being a stay-at home dad,” explains Nathan (38). “And it was a lot of fun! Kelly went back to work as a pharmacy technician for three or four days a week and it became just me and the kids at home. When I was playing cricket and touring a lot, I’d missed out on seeing them grow up – especially in Liam’s younger years – so it was great to spend some time with them. I thoroughly enjoyed it – they’re pretty easy kids to entertain!”

Then, when Liam turned five and started school, and Alyssa went off to kindergarten, househubby Nathan found himself twiddling his thumbs. “I’m not the sort of person who can sit around and do nothing,” he laughs. “Again, I began to consider the idea of a business and thought running a childcare centre might be really rewarding.” Nathan says it wasn’t a decision he made lightly. Having seen many of the preschools in the area first-hand, he had firm ideas about what sort of place he wanted to take on. High on the list of priorities was ample outdoor space for recreational activities.

“I wanted my centre to allow kids to be kids,” he tells. “I have quite old-fashioned values and I wanted the children to be outside, playing in the mud and rolling around in the grass.” So when he saw the daycare centre Kiwi Kids was for sale – complete with 4000m2 of land – he knew he and Kelly just had to have a look. “I think we fell in love as soon as we saw it,” smiles Kelly. “Yes,” agrees Nathan, “I knew this was the one. There was this massive outdoor area with a bike track and a huge playground. It wasn’t a concrete cube of a building with astroturf instead of grass.Kids were skateboarding... it matched my vision of what a childcare centre should be like for kids of this age.”

So Nathan and Kelly, who’d recently built their dream home in Fendalton, sold up. “We went to the bank, then made an offer – which was pretty nerve-wracking but also really exciting,” says Nathan. It wasn’t long before the devoted dad was swapping peanut-butter sandwiches and Playdoh for payroll systems and parent-teacher nights.

Did anyone ever tell him he was mad? “Oh yes!” Nathan laughs. “One of the first things we did was have an evening where the parents could come and meet me and Kelly. The question they asked the most was,‘Why? This is nothing you know about,’ and they were right. But I can learn and I’m keen.

All in all, the parents and the staff have been really supportive. They’ve allowed me to take the time I need to learn the ropes.” The kids, on the other hand, have no idea that the new face at their daycare – the man lobbing balls around the field and helping fix the wheels on their trikes – is a household name. “Although I’ve spoken to a few cricket-mad dads,” he chuckles.

With the acquisition of the centre, Kelly has given up her job to help Nathan with his new challenge. “He’s the boss,” she says, glancing cheekily at her husband. “I do what I’m told! But it’s nice to go into this together, so I’m happy to put my career aside for now.”

Both say the biggest hurdle so far has been going from managing two energetic kids to nearly 100 children and 20-plus staff,but it’s something they’re coming to grips with. And Nathan says he’s astounded at the passion he feels for following this dream. “It doesn’t feel like work,” he admits, “because I love it so much, which really surprises me.

I was nervous at first, but now I’m really committed and passionate about it.” And, the cricket hero confesses, he’s actually a bit of a natural – thanks to the experience he gained being a stay-at-home dad to Liam and Alyssa. “Parenting has helped me understand what is needed for kids to be happy,” he smiles. “I know that it’s a big move for parents to put their child into preschool because we’ve been there too. And I’m hopeful we’re getting it right!”