Fleming back and confident
By Jonathan Millmow
From Stuff, 5 September 2003
New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming is upbeat
about his batting form despite by his standards moderate
returns for English second division county Yorkshire.
Much was expected of Fleming after his rich vein of
form at the World Cup and his marathon 274 not out against
Sri Lanka but he was more steady than spectacular during
his 11-week stint at Yorkshire.
Fleming scored 469 first class runs at 39.08 which
in a season where bat is dominating ball could only
be described as fair. He did amass 285 one-day runs
at 47.50, including one century (139) which was more
in keeping with his most recent international form.
Fleming, who returned home to Wellington on Wednesday,
admitted he was guilty on occasions of being "slightly
reckless" but his confidence remains high heading into
the end of the month tour to India.
"I'm feeling very good – I scored quite quickly
over there and perhaps at times I was slightly reckless
but generally I'm more than pleased," he said.
"I was going at a run-a-ball type tempo which is something
that you aren't going to do in tests very often but
I just played naturally."
Fleming, 30, did feel he missed the daily feedback
on his batting that is available in the New Zealand
camp. He has developed a close rapport with New Zealand
Cricket's technical adviser Ashley Ross and the pair
are often seen staring down the eye of a video camera
at training.
"I love the feedback and I missed that but it is good
to get away and work on things yourself and cement your
own thoughts.
"I worked on a couple of technical issues and time
will tell whether anything comes of those."
Fleming crossed swords with Craig Spearman on the county
circuit but the New Zealand captain said he was leaving
all approaches about a possible one-day return to coach
John Bracewell and selection manager Richard Hadlee.
However, after Spearman took Yorkshire apart in a one-day
game Fleming did acknowledge the swashbuckling opener
had taken his game to a higher level.
"I'm not involved in the process but I'd love to see
him become available because we haven't got enough players
at our disposal and the top of the order has been a
trouble spot for us," Fleming said.
One change he is excited about is the appointment of
Bracewell. The pair found time on the busy county circuit
to exchange views on the team's future direction and
both walked away singing from the same hymn sheet.
Fleming expects Bracewell's vast experience will benefit
his captaincy but despite all the speculation he doubts
his leadership role will change greatly in the new structure.
|
