Fleming sets sights on No 2 slot in world
By Dylan Cleaver
From the Sunday Star Times, 21 September 2003
They say nobody remembers who came
second, but come next March, Stephen Fleming will be
delighted to have a No 2 beside the Black Caps' name.
That's the position on the test ladder New Zealand is
aiming for and possibly the most important step on that
odyssey begins today when the Black Caps jet off for
India.
If it can hold its own on the crumbling pitches of Ahmedabad
and Mohali, it will be in prime position to take No
2 in the test rankings off South Africa when it, and
Pakistan, visit in our summer.
Ahh, the test rankings: meaningful reward or mere flight
of fancy of ICC members ensconced in oak-panelled offices?
"When we're high we take them very seriously and
when we're low we sort of scoff at them," Fleming
says.
"We've worked pretty high to climb that ladder
and we've looked after it for a number of test series
and we're very keen to enhance that to No 2 and in a
few years challenge for No 1, which is the ultimate
aim. Certainly we're very positive about our third placing,
but we know, with what's coming up, it's going to be
hard.
"It would be ideal to play well in the sub-continent,
beat Pakistan and play South Africa for the No 2 spot."
Fleming says the recent test series between South Africa
and England summed up where the three teams fighting
for No 2 in the world were at - each team could have
its good days and bad days.
"The team that strings a series performance together
and has a couple of players in top form will probably
leapfrog the others," he said.
But he is probably being a bit harsh on his own side.
The Black Caps are still as inconsistent as bad porridge
when it comes to one-day cricket, but have largely cut
out the horror tests which used to afflict it (the last
test it played in Pakistan being an obvious exception
to the rule).
"That's been the key to us moving up the table.
In key areas we have been more consistent and that's
come with experience."
Fleming said India offered a good chance to extend the
good work done in Sri Lanka earlier this year, when
the Black Caps nullified the threat of Muttiah Muralitharan
to draw the series. He said if himself and Mark Richardson,
who did the bulk of the batting in Sri Lanka and will
probably bear the brunt again, could lift the scoring
rate a little, New Zealand would be in position to win,
rather than draw the tests.
"We'd like to score a little quicker which is what
we've been working on during the winter."
With Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan returning for this
tour, quick scoring should be less of a problem.
On the other side of the rupee, is the threat of India
scoring quickly. Sachin Tendulkar is back playing after
injury and announced his return to the scene with 94
for Mumbai against the Rest of India last week.
Add to Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly and
VVS Laxman and you have batsmen who can slay an attack,
particularly in home conditions, particularly against
a Shane Bond-less attack.
"You can't replace a Shane Bond, " Fleming
said, "but there's a lot of options we can take."
Fleming said the key to restricting Tendulkar and company
was to bowl in areas where the increase was risked if
they looked to score quickly.
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