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New Zealand in Australia

The Black Caps lost the two-match Test series 0-2 to Australia. Fleming's only notable contribution was a half-century in the Second Test.

• Stephen Fleming and his partner Kelly Payne are engaged to be married.

• Fleming's official biography, Stephen Fleming - Balance of Power by Richard Boock is now available. (I have written a brief review.)

New Zealand in England

There is some doubt as to whether Fleming will be fit to play the one-day segment of the England tour, having suffered a flare-up of the abdominal injury that troubled the Kiwi skipper last year. The injury meant Fleming played a limited role in the rain-affected warm-up games, having already sat out the British Universities game with a bruised hand. However, Fleming is currently playing the First Test against England, and hopefully he will be fit to continue.

• Congratulations to Stephen Fleming who won the Walter Hadlee trophy for one-day international batting and the Player of the Year award at the 2004 New Zealand Cricket Awards!

• Happy birthday to Flem, who turned 31 on April 1.

South Africa in New Zealand - Test Series

After drawing the First Test and achieving a stirring victory in the Second Test in Auckland, the Black Caps seemed on-course for a momentous series victory over their old demons, South Africa. Unfortunately, lacklustre batting saw New Zealand lose the Third Test and draw the series one-all. Fleming personally failed to make a significant contribution, making only 30 and 9 in the Third Test, the final match of the home season, but that fact should not be allowed to detract from the strength of Fleming's performances over the summer, or the team's achievement in securing definitive one-day series victories against both Pakistan and South Africa.

South Africa in New Zealand - One-Day Series

Stephen Fleming has led New Zealand to an historic first series win against South Africa. The highly competitive one-day series has been characterised by poor weather and last-ball finishes. Another highlight was Fleming's sixth century, which was his second century in Christchurch this summer. That innings also marked Fleming's 6,000 one-day run.

• Stephen Fleming is working on a new book - reportedly a biography - which will be released through Hodder Moa Beckett in time for Christmas 2004 (thanks Heather for this news).

Pakistan in New Zealand - One-Day Series

The Black Caps defeated Pakistan 4-1 in the five-match one-day series. Fleming was a fairly regular contributor with the bat but the real highlight was his unbeaten knock of 115 in the third match at Christchurch. Fleming carried his bat through the innings, guiding New Zealand to a seemingly-easy win: [More]

Fleming now has the opportunity to rest before resuming his duties for Wellington and then New Zealand, when the South Africans tour in February.

Pakistan in New Zealand - Test Series

Despite a month's lay-off from international cricket, Stephen Fleming made a stunning start to the home season, scoring his sixth Test century in the first innings of the First Test against Pakistan in Hamilton. Fleming was dismissed on 192, just short of what would have been his second Test double-century: [More]

Fleming seemed untroubled by either his injury or his lack of match practice in the lead-up to the test during his fluent innings which revived the good form he had displayed at the World Cup and in Sri Lanka earlier in the year. However the Test series ended badly for the Black Caps who, after drawing the First Test, lost the Second Test and thus the series 0-1.

• Fleming played for Wellington against Canterbury at the Basin Reserve to test out his mystery abdominal injury. Although he scored only moderately, he proved his fitness sufficient to be selected in the Test squad.

• It is possible that Fleming will miss the First Test against Pakistan in Hamilton, as he continues to be troubled by an abdominal strain.

• Stephen Fleming will not tour Pakistan with the Black Caps due to an abdominal strain which also saw him miss the last match of the one-day tri-series in India. Fleming will undergo rest and physiotherapy to ensure he is fit when the Pakistan team arrives in December. Meanwhile Chris Cairns will lead the New Zealanders in five one-day matches.

New Zealand in India - One-Day Tri Series

New Zealand did not qualify for the tri-series final after failing to beat Australia and losing their last game to India. Fleming sat out that match with an abominal strain, a disappointing end to a fairly disappointing series.

New Zealand's first match, against India, was a rained out no-result, followed by a comprehensive 8-wicket defeat by Australia. New Zealand was bowled out for 97 after Fleming won the toss and elected to bat, only to find the ball moved voraciously. He made 2 before being caught behind. In the Black Caps' next match, against Australia in Pune, Fleming battled on to 40 while the top-order collapsed around him. New Zealand eventually lost by two wickets, and Fleming has criticised the Indian pitches and early start times which have twice seen the Black Caps ' top five crumble. In the process he has attracted some criticism from the Indian cricket board. New Zealand is yet to win a match in the series but still hopes to make the final.

New Zealand in India - Tests

> New Zealand in India tour page, results, etc.

The Black Caps will play a one-day tri-series with India and Australia starting October 23.

The Test series in India was drawn 0-0, with Fleming making scores of 1 and 8 in the First Test, and contributing 30 in New Zealand's first innings total of 630 in the Second Test.

New Zealand also drew two warm-up games, with India A and a Board President's XI.

Fleming has apologised for inadvertently offending some people when he was photographed for an alcohol advertisement in Gujarat, where alcohol is prohibited.

• Stephen Fleming and Jacob Oram have been chosen as the New Zealand Cricket Almanack's Players of the Year for 2003.

• September 2003: Fleming is back in New Zealand following his stint with Yorkshire. He did not go to Brisbane for the Black Caps' training session there, but will soon fly out for the tour of India.

Fleming at Yorkshire

> For Yorkshire's scores, visit the BBC website

• 29/6/03: Opening the batting in his first County Championship for Yorkshire against Somerset, Fleming narrowly missed out on a century when he was dismissed on 98.

• 20/6/03: After a poor start to the new Twenty20 Cup, with four runs from three innings, Fleming hit 58 off 34 to be Man of the Match against Durham. He was then sidelined briefly by a bruised toe sustained during the match.

• 14/6/03: Fleming has gone to England to take up an eleven-week contract with county Yorkshire.

• 5/6/03: Stephen Fleming's contract has been renewed for another year (no surprises there!). Player rankings inside the top 20 are not made public, but it is thought that Fleming will have received one of the three highest-paying top-tier contracts.

• Fleming is now back in New Zealand. The Black Caps have a four-month break before touring India in October.

New Zealand in Sri Lanka

New Zealand won their first tri-series trophy after defeating Pakistan by 4 wickets in the final at Dambulla. Fleming was Man of the Match with 65 runs.

The two-match Test series against Sri Lanka ended in a 0-0 draw.

Stephen Fleming scored 274 not out, his first double century and the second highest ever score by a New Zealander, during the First Test in Colombo. Fleming went on to score a further 69 runs against a challenging spin attack during the second innings. The Test ended in a draw but Fleming's outstanding personal effort set a new record for most runs in a Test by a New Zealander.

Fleming is in Sri Lanka with the Black Caps for two Tests and a one-day tri-series to be played over April-May. The first Test begins on April 25.

• Congratulations to Stephen Fleming, who was awarded the Walter Hadlee Trophy for best batting in one-day internationals at the annual New Zealand Cricket awards dinner.

• Happy Birthday to Stephen Fleming, who turned 30 on April 1st, 2003.

World Cup News: February-March 2003

For World Cup scores, see the special World Cup news page.

The Black Caps failed to qualify for the Semi Finals after beating just Zimbabwe in the Super Sixes phase of the tournament. Fleming, however, continued his good batting form through New Zealand's heavy losses to Australia and India, top-scoring in each dismal batting effort. Fleming's batting, along with Nathan Astle's century against Zimbabwe and Shane Bond's stunning 6/23 against Australia, was one of few highlights for the Black Caps in the latter part of the tournament.

New Zealand qualified for the Super Sixes stage of the World Cup in South Africa, edging out the host nation. Fleming continued in good touch with the bat, although he was run out cheaply during the Black Caps' quick-paced run chase against Canada.

Fleming is with the Black Caps in South Africa for the 2003 World Cup. He scored 32 against Bangladesh, including 19 off one over, before being given out to a dubious decision. Ten days earlier, he struck a breathtaking 134* to secure an improbable but critical victory for New Zealand against South Africa, thus keeping the Black Caps' World Cup hopes alive. For Fleming personally, it was his best century, and his first hundred in five years.

Fleming had foreshadowed his form in South Africa by scoring 122 (retired) against Gauteng in the Black Caps' second warm up match. He subsequently made 1 and a quick-paced 25 in the first two pool matches.

• Earlier this year, Fleming led the Black Caps to a 5-2 series win during the one-day series against India. That series also witnessed some encouraging batting performances from Fleming himself, including his 60 not out during the final game, for which he earned the Man of the Match award.