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Journalism of Courage
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Stephen Fleming is the most successful captain the Black Caps have ever had. More than Steve Waugh, if anyone fits the bill of an ideal ‘Iceman’ captain, it should be Fleming. For unlike Australia where Waugh had a well-balanced team to handle, Fleming has been marshalling a bunch of under-achievers and certainly not stylish cricketers, except for Chris Carins, maybe.
Never seen as a front-runner before any World Cup, the Kiwis reached the quarter-final of the 1996 World Cup and then the semi-final in 1999 where they faced Pakistan, both under Fleming.
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DID YOU KNOW?
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• Stephen Fleming became New Zealand’s most successful Test captain in September 2000.  You have exhausted your
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• Fleming was also New Zealand’s youngest Test captain when he took over the job in 1997 aged 23 years and 319 days. This began one of the most enduring captaincies in the history of New Zealand Test cricket |
With the prospect of forfeiting its points against a lowly Kenya looming large, New Zealand have gone one step backwards in their conquest for the World Cup. With hosts South Africa nearly assured of one berth, the Kiwis will have to fight it out against Sri Lanka and West Indies and also Kenya who can easily sneak in, riding on the points from New Zealand if it happens.
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Best WC moment
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| His team’s best finish in the World Cup was in the last edition where his team lost to Pakistan in the semifinal at Old Trafford. Fleming’s boys did nothing wrong and qualified for the semifinal despite losing to South Africa earlier. Posting a decent total 0f 241 for seven Fleming, however, did not account for Saeed Anwar’s class who blasted away to a flawless 113 as Pakistan won by nine wickets. Anwar’s partnership with Wajahatullah Wasti of 194 runs demolished the World Cup first wicket partnership record of 186 held by South Africans Gary Kirsten and Andrew Hudson, against lightweights Holland in Rawalpindi. |
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HEAD TO HEAD
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| WAQAR YOUNIS: Fleming has always found the Sultan of reverse swing — Waqar Younis — too hot to handle. The match between Pakistan and New Zealand will also be a personal batle for both captains where Fleming will look to show Younis his brand of batting after having been dismissed by Younis seven times — four out of them for showing the leg rather.
CHAMINDA VAAS: The wily left-arm Lankan spear-head has had the skipper flummoxed with his ability to quickly and effortlessly change the pace of his deliveries. For a batsman who likes the ball to come onto the bat, Vaas will be a difficult proposition to handle. ALLAN DONALD: Donald, in his heydays, had too much pace on him for Fleming to handle. However, much water has flown under the bridge and it needs to be seen who has improvised better. |
