Fleming tosses and turns as rematch looms

From Stuff, 3 November 2003

PUNE: Chris Cairns' improving fitness has given New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming one less sleepless night but the impending headache over today's coin toss isn't helping.

New Zealand meet a buoyant Australia who scored a 77-run TVS Cup win over India in the Mumbai cauldron at the weekend.

It adds up to desperate times for New Zealand who are still chasing their first win and threatening to slip from finals contention if they stumble again.

Weighing most heavily on Fleming's mind as he weaved through the throng of armed guards to board the team bus today was how the Nehru Stadium pitch would behave after the debacle in Faridabad on Wednesday.

Australia's pacemen skittled New Zealand for 97 there, and the early morning dew for tomorrow's 9am start (4.30pm NZ time) could loom as a factor.

"Last week's result puts more pressure on it. I've been studying the turf culture guides for the last couple of nights and (former New Zealand coach) David Trist's been around so he's never short of a word," Fleming said with a laugh.

"That often doesn't help, it just adds to the equation.

"Once the decision's made you've just got to trust it. If it's the wrong one, do everything you can to get out of it."

Fleming and coach Ashley Ross have been falling over each other to take the blame for getting it wrong on Wednesday when New Zealand batted first on a seaming pitch.

Last night's match in Mumbai was more the way New Zealand would like to play it – bat first then apply pressure on a pitch getting lower and slower.

But the gunshyness over last week's result and Trist's warning that the pitch will seam early on adds to the puzzle.

The tourists got their first look at the match pitch yesterday as their opponents were wiping sleep out of their eyes from the day-night match and checking into their hotel.

Backing up two days after a tough day-night match is difficult for any team and the New Zealanders at least have freshness in their favour.

The four-day break has given the inspirational Cairns enough time to probably be fit for the match after missing last Wednesday with a hamstring strain.

"We're pretty confident he'll be there. He had a good workout yesterday... he was bowling with good pace yesterday and took a full part which was a good sign," Fleming said.

It was more doubtful for medium pacer Paul Hitchcock, whose side strain has seen him reduced to spectator status at training.

He and backup pacemen Ian Butler and Kyle Mills were all on the injured list – Butler and Mills both struggling with back problems.

Fleming insisted confidence wasn't lacking in his side as they look to break a four-match losing streak against the world champions.

"We're almost playing up the fact it was conditions the other day so the players are confident. Against Australia you've got to be confident and take the game to them and try to put them under pressure."

The bowling approach against Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and century-maker Damien Martyn will need to be precise and there will be more innovative field settings to try and quell them at the top.

Of more concern is New Zealand's batting, which has collapsed for 132, 112 and 97 in the last three encounters against Australia.

Fleming, though, was confident pacemen Nathan Bracken and Brad Williams wouldn't wreak havoc again.

"I don't think they've put enough international performances on the board to warrant giving them too much respect.

"Bracken's had good conditions to bowl in and he seems pretty potent when the ball's moving around. We've had a better look at him and we're well aware of what he can do."

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (captain), Chris Nevin, Lou Vincent, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Paul Hitchcock, Kyle Mills, Ian Butler.

Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Michael Bevan, Michael Clarke, Ian Harvey, Andrew Bichel, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Brad Williams, Jimmy Maher, Michael Kasprowicz.