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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