Captain Fantastic a big hit

By Jonathan Millmow
From Stuff, 18 February 2003

Former coaches Steve Rixon and David Trist were lavish in their praise of both the individual and the innings yesterday after Stephen Fleming fired New Zealand into World Cup contention.

Captain Fleming's unbeaten 134 against South Africa at the Wanderers in Johannesburg was his greatest and most significant one-day innings for the Black Caps and rates among the finest in New Zealand's limited-overs history.

Rixon and Trist have shared in the highs and lows of Fleming's career and were both moved by his match-winning contribution in one of New Zealand's most clutch situations.

Rixon, who sent Fleming a congratulatory e-mail from Sydney yesterday, placed the knock above his last century (111), five years ago against Australia in Napier.

"This is the biggest stage in the game and he came through like a great captain should," Rixon said.

"When it gets really hard Flem will stand up, and this is a good sign for New Zealand because when Flem plays well the team goes to another level."

Both coaches believe Fleming's fourth one-day hundred could open the floodgates.

"He's always had the ability but consistency has been his downfall," Rixon said.

"There has been a fair bit of emphasis on his captaincy but that is no excuse. New Zealand needs him to stand up more with the bat and this could be a turning point, wouldn't that be great?"

Trist followed the 132-ball innings through to its conclusion at 5.30am (New Zealand time) and he ranked the knock on a par with the 99 Fleming scored in the first test against South Africa at Bloemfontein in 2000.

"It was cometh the moment cometh the man," Trist said.

"Perhaps in the past he has lived in Nathan Astle's shadow but out there yesterday with all the variables going on around him – Kenya, criticism of his opening role and the state of the World Cup campaign – he took it to them."

Trist believes Fleming saves his best for the republic because of the brilliant batting surfaces there.

Fleming played all around the clock at the Wanderers, cracking 21 boundaries, many the result of precision timing and placement.

"His ability to strike boundaries is the key to his game and when the wicket is coming on he suits that style of play," he said.

Trist is "bullish" about New Zealand's cup prospects, believing like many that apart from Australia there is very little between the other leading sides.

"I think a number of our players are running into form. Chris Cairns is due to fire with the bat, Scotty Styris, Nathan and Flem are away now and I'm not worried about one bad day by Shane Bond."