Fleming's leadership is critical element
By Richard Boock
From The New Zealand Herald, 7 March 2003
If this year's World Cup was to include
a category for Most Resourceful Leader, New Zealand's
Stephen Fleming would surely rate an early nomination.
The captain who was on the point
of falling on his sword the last time New Zealand played
Zimbabwe will walk out onto Goodyear Park tomorrow night
as a changed man, and arguably as the most effective
skipper left in the Super Six.
Not only has his batting proved
a breath of fresh air over here, but his leadership
has been composed and alert, a factor that has played
a vital role in New Zealand's negotiating their most
difficult first-round draw in World Cup history.
It said something of Fleming's
character that he was able to cope with the pressure
and lead his side to Super Six safety, given that a
second loss after Sri Lanka would have left New Zealand
languishing near the bottom of pool B, and facing near-certain
elimination.
The most experienced captain left
in the Super Six, Fleming has stood at the helm in 134
one-day internationals and has fashioned a 43.25 per
cent win record (54/74), including leading his side
to the ICC Knockout Trophy in 2000.
A skipper who does his homework,
he's regarded as one of the best-prepared strategists
in the game, making a habit of identifying and exploiting
opponents' weaknesses while, at the same time, making
the most of his own players' abilities.
This was never more evident than
in the tri-series in Australia last summer when he regularly
out-foxed players such as Damien Martyn and Ricky Ponting,
and at home this season when he led his side to an astonishing
series win over India.
Possibly the best aspect of his
performance at this tournament is that he is looking
in especially good batting touch as well, a development
which is certain to boost his sense of self-belief,
especially after the century against South Africa.
Fleming says he feels like he is
on the cusp of something special.
"The changes I've made technically
are giving me a lot more confidence and everything feels
very good. It's not only making a difference for me,
it's making a difference in terms of our entire batting
unit."
SIX OF THE BEST
Some of the leaders in the Super
Six round have achieved incredible results with limited
resources
STEPHEN FLEMING - NEW ZEALAND
Age: 29. 134 ODIs (as captain),
54/74 (43.25 per cent)
RICKY PONTING - AUSTRALIA
Age: 28. 32 ODIs (as captain) 25
wins/5 losses (82.26 per cent)
The first Tasmanian to be appointed
to the Australian captaincy when chosen as Steve Waugh's
ODI replacement early last year, Ponting has hardly
missed a beat in the changeover, although elimination
from last season's home tri-series will always rate
as a low point.
Facing a difficult assignment after
the tenure of Waugh, Ponting has led Australia to success
in this summer's home tri-series and has proved especially
effective at this tournament, steering his side to pole
position in the race for the semifinals.
There have been a couple of distractions
as well, not least Shane Warne's suspension for taking
a banned drug, Darren Lehman's racial abuse and Jason
Gillespie's withdrawal through injury, but Ponting has
stayed focussed.
For all that, his success as captain
has a lot to do with his side's talent, just as Viv
Richards and Clive Lloyd fashioned impressive records
with the halcyon sides of the late 1970s and 1980s.
SOURAV GANGULY - INDIA
Age: 30. 95 ODIs (as captain) 50/42
(54.35 per cent)
It's hard to decide what to make
of Ganguly after his nightmare tour to New Zealand and
the slow start to this tournament.
After securing five away test wins
he is now regarded as his country's most successful
skipper, although it was a difficult label for Kiwi
fans to accept as he steered his team from one disaster
to another in New Zealand.
Probably the best left-handed batsman
in India history, he appears completely different to
his coach John Wright, who tends to emphasise the need
for grit and fight in his team, two qualities that Ganguly
has unfortunately yet to discover.
Yet nothing can boost the spirits
more than success, and Ganguly would have noticed that
after his side romped to a win over Pakistan last week,
to the extent that India now look a strong candidate
to progress through to the semis and beyond.
SANATH JAYASURIYA - SRI LANKA
Age: 33. 111 ODIs (as captain),
64/42 (60.19 per cent)
The elder statesman of the Super
Six captains, Jayasuriya has already performed something
of a minor miracle at this tournament, considering that
only recently Sri Lanka were being destroyed in both
Australia and South Africa.
Regarded as cricket's most famous
Buddhist, he is reported to be a mild-mannered man who
rules through consensus, although at times he looks
terse if things are not going to plan.
His ability to draw this varied
bunch into an effective unit speaks volumes of his mental
strength and tactical acumen, as the side only have
three or four genuine match-influencing players.
One of the most explosive opening
batsmen in world cricket today, Jayasuriya is determined
to emulate Arjuna Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to a
famous win in the 1996 World Cup final against Australia.
HEATH STREAK - ZIMBABWE
Age: 28. 39 ODIs (as captain),
11/127 (28.95 per cent)
Streak is another captain who has
over-achieved considering his meagre pool of talent,
although he insists his side will not be out-classed
when they begin the Super Six against New Zealand tomorrow.
He has a match-winner in world-class
opening batsman Andy Flower but otherwise directs a
side full of journeymen, making his side's second consecutive
Super Six qualification another momentous occasion.
Streak, who three summers ago blasted
the six that gave Zimbabwe their first series win over
New Zealand in New Zealand, understands how to make
the most of his resources, mostly because he knows his
players well.
He is acutely aware of what's needed
in terms of the development of Zimbabwean cricket, and
dismisses talk that his side's presence in the second
round would detract from the spectacle.
"We challenged the Australians
really closely when they played here so we hope we can
prove to everyone that we deserve to be there."
STEVE TIKOLO - KENYA
Age: 31. 15 ODIs (as captain),
4/11 (26.67 per cent)
As spokesman for one of the developing
teams in world cricket, Tikolo occasionally has to play
administrator. He pulled off a stunning achievement
this week by leading his side through to the Super Six,
a feat no other side without test status has managed
in eight tournaments.
The qualification was due in equal
amounts to New Zealand's forfeit and a startling upset
over Sri Lanka, leaving Tikolo and his team heroes in
a soccer-mad nation.
Demonstrating the courage he is
known for on the field, Tikolo hit out at the country's
cricket establishment, saying the game had to spread
beyond Nairobi. He added that some administrators had
been in the job too long, and did not respect the players.
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