Fleming most successful NZ cricket captain

By Mick Jellyman
From STUFF, 4 October 2002


The role of captain is probably more demanding in cricket than in any other sport.

Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming is our most successful test captain and these days has a more hands-on approach in the job than before.

We have had some outstanding cricket captains, the first being Tom Lowry back in 1930 when New Zealand played their first test match against England in Christchurch.

Lowry was an astute leader with English experience and had all the credentials.

Walter Hadlee had a good record in England as captain in 1949.

Four three-day test matches were played against England, all were drawn, a series in which our own Fen Cresswell played in the fourth test and took six wickets, including that of one of the all-time great England batsman Len Hutton, who made 206 in England's 482.

I felt Geoff Howarth was an outstanding leader. He captained New Zealand in a series in Australia that included Lance Cairns' famous half century at Melbourne in 1983, which is still regarded as one of the great one day innings for New Zealand.

Howarth had his critics, but without all the luck in the world he lead by example.

Fleming has won the praise of many of today's cricket writers and commentators, some of whom are prepared to claim him as the best current captain in world cricket.

It's a big call, but he has done well with a side of few stars.

He has so often lost the services of key players like Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, top bowlers at one day or test cricket.

Injuries have hit them hard to the point where Nash, perhaps at his peak, has flagged the game away.

Fleming has had to make the most of the reserves he has had.

Cricket nationally got a deserved boost last season when New Zealand really took it to the Australians in the one day series and with a bit of luck they could have even won the test series which was drawn.

We looked very competitive against the Aussies, even to the point of pushing them out of their own tri-series with South Africa, which was quite a feat.

Fleming certainly lead the side well.

When Denis Aberhart was appointed coach last season, it was agreed that Fleming would have a freer hand.

In an interview with the Sky Watch magazine, Fleming wondered whether at the age of 23 he was ready for the captaincy.

"No I wasn't, but I think that with inexperience comes a certain naivete and in a way I had an easier time back then than I have had over the last few seasons.

"Everyone knew I was young and so took it a lot easier on me.

"I had a bit of a honeymoon period at the beginning."

Fleming was quoted in the magazine as also saying, "We set high standards for ourselves and we are often more disappointed in ourselves because we know what we wanted to do.

"I always maintain that with each series we have to enjoy it because there are times of despair.

"We are quick to knock down and build up."

Fleming and coach Aberhart have their eyes on the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

The recent ICC trophy tournament in Sri Lanka was part of New Zealand's build up to the cup. As playing through ICC champions, New Zealand were under pressure, especially having drawn the high flying Aussies first up.

Thinking of Fleming's words that there are times of despair, it was so true after their thrashing by Australia in that opening ICC match.

I watched it on TV and the team that gave our Tasman rivals such a work over last season were never in the game.

Daniel Vittori, a part of the New Zealand bowling attack, was not up to World Cup standard.

We dropped a couple of important slip catches, one of them the Aussie captain and top order batsman Ricky Ponting.

One of New Zealand's strengths last season was our catching and it's so true that catches win matches.

When we batted, it was embarrassing stuff, for after three overs the top order of Fleming, Astle and Vincent were gone and the score 17.

It didn't get any better and the worst dismissal for me was to see allrounder Jacob Oram raise his bat and not play a shot and get bowled.

It was truly humiliating for the Black Caps.

The only consolation I can take is that New Zealand cannot play this poorly again, surely, and in one day cricket these results do come up from time to time.

To have a show in the World Cup we definitely need a fit Chris Cairns, who is a true international player, and the return of Adams and Craig McMillan.

I too am of the opinion that our test wicketkeeper Mathew Hart should be in the team.

Vincent, who kept in his side, is not of international standard and with a limited bowling attack we need the best keeper and Hart is that man.

At the outset of this column I did say that a cricket captain has more demands on him than in other sports.

It may be debatable, but the cricket leader has his bowlers to organise, set the field, change the field at times, set the batting order and change it should circumstances demand.

He should lead his side by example.

All this is very demanding and Fleming is our man to do the job, having captained New Zealand in more tests than anyone else.

New Zealand lost ground with their early demise in that ICC tournament, but past form, particularly last season's success, suggests that we can do much better and be competitive with Fleming giving it the right type of leadership.

It is interesting to read through the list of NZ captains since that first test in the 1929-30 season and see how many times the captain's lead the side in their win ratio.

The 2001 NZ Cricket Almanack gives us a list of captains and their wins and they are Stu Fleming 36 matches 13 wins; John Reid 34 and 3; Geoff Howarth 30 and 11; Graham Dowling 19 and 4; Ken Rutherford 18 and 2; Bevan Congdon 17 and 1; Martin Crowe 16 and 2; Jeremy Coney 15 and 5; John Wright 14 and 3; Lee Germon 12 and 1; Glen Turner 10 and 1; Mark Burgess 10 and 1; Harry Cave 9 and 0; Walter Hadleey 9 and 0; Tom Lowry 7 and 0; Milford Page 7 and 0; Jeff Crowe 6 and 0; Geoff Rabone 5 and 0; Bert Sutcliff 4 and 0; Barry Sinclair 3 and 0; Dion Nash 3 and 0; Merv Wallace 2 and 0; Murray Chapple 1 and 0; John Parker 1 and 0; Ian Smith 1 and 0.

A few surprises there I'm sure.

It was in 1956 that New Zealand had its first test win that was against the West Indies in Auckland.

Fleming's standing in world cricket was confirmed when he was asked to lead a world 11 against England in two one day matches in England early in October.

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