Fleming bowls the maidens over

From the Sunday Star Times, 9 February 2003

Black Cap Stephen Fleming has bowled over the South African maidens before a ball being bowled in the World Cricket Cup.

The 29-year-old cricketer has come second in a poll run by women on Johannesburg's The Star newspaper to find the World Hunks XI.

Fleming was pipped by Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram in the poll which rated players from the 14 teams in the cup on their sex appeal, rather than their ability to play a Brett Lee bouncer.

"Everything about him is perfect - the hair, the twinkly eyes, the luscious lashes, the strong jaw, the lean body. And when he smiles, women swoon. One look at him and we immediately want to have his children," female staff on The Star's Verve magazine section wrote of the New Zealand captain.

"He exudes integrity and determination, but also appears sensitive and discerning. A real man, the kind you could take home and be sure that he would win over both your mother and father."

While Fleming was chosen to "open the batting" for the women's Hunks XI, fellow Black Cap Chris Cairns was selected at number 10, although The Star selectors noted, somewhat ruefully, he was already promised to a South African woman.

Of the 32-year-old master blaster, The Star said: "He fits our preconceived notion of a New Zealander - rugged, strong and macho - but we are told he has a sweet, sensitive side too. Whenever a curly lock of his hair falls on his forehead, we have the irresistible urge to reach up and run our fingers - all over him.

For the record, the World Hunks XI was in "batting" order: Akram, Fleming, Bangladesh's Alok Kapali, South Africa's Makhaya Ntini, West Indies' Corey Collymore, England's Craig White, India's Zaheer Khan, Australia's Brett Lee, India's Rahul Dravid, Cairns and India's Sachin Tendulkar.

And in a further blow to Australian legspinner Shane Warne's confidence after tabloid revelations last week that he'd had a facelift - he was named 12th man to carry the drinks for the 11 hunks.