Fleming receives high pass mark from coach

Stephen Fleming, the 27-year-old New Zealand cricket captain and no stranger to recent criticism of his leadership, received a high pass mark from his coach David Trist yesterday -- and with the promise that Fleming may soon move from B-plus to A on his exam sheet.

One of the more penetrating questions asked when Fleming and Trist had a press conference at Auckland airport at the end of their exhausting Zimbabwe-Kenya-South Africa, was whether Fleming was comfortable with his captaincy in the face of criticism about his leadership and slightly declining batting form.

"I am still enjoying the challenge of the captaincy, it has tested my abilities on and off the field," said Fleming.

"But my enthusiasm is still there, I still enjoy my role."

Trist, in his last season as national coach, interrupted the reply to say: "Fleming has been absolutely outstanding as captain during a very difficult period, especially on this tour with its mixture of one-day and five-day games.

"The way he directed the team both on and off the field reflected very well on his personal style."

Now Fleming looks at the prospect of playing a season with Middlesex next year as giving him another upward step in his cricketing career.

"I am very excited about the invitation from Middlesex," said Fleming, who tempered his enthusiasm with the comment that negotiations among himself, New Zealand Cricket and Middlesex had yet to be completed.

"The move could be great for my cricket. My batting skills may have plateaued, my average has been about the same for the last few years, and batting experience such as this could add to my cricketing future.

"It will be an advantage playing at a professional level five or six days a week without the needs of captaincy. It will give me a chance to let my batting advance."

Fleming said there were plusses from the number of injures suffered on the long tour.

"We have the raw talent, the ability from the players we had over there, but in terms of results all the injuries were frustrating."

Trist sorted out Mark Richardson as the major find of the tour as an opening batsman, and gave Chris Martin, the right-arm medium-fast bowler as second ranking among the new players.

"Other players such as Brooke Walker and Hamish Marshall made progress, they got the opportunity to play test cricket that could give us a foundation to fall back on should out top players not be available in the future.

"This tour will have created a bigger playing base of players who are able to step up to test cricket."

Although some players today complained they were tired after a long tour, Fleming said this must be accepted as part and parcel of being a professional cricketer.

Adding a season with Middlesex to New Zealand's crowded international schedule would not lead to burn out, said Fleming.

"In fact it could very well be a benefit. The more you play the more advantages you get out of it. I find the idea of playing for Middlesex exciting. A few centuries there would be very good for the morale."

Trist confirmed that he would stay with his decision to step down from the coaching position at the end of the coming season.

Neither Trist nor Fleming had a preference for a New Zealanders to fill the coaching role.

Trist said the new coach's homeland was not important -- "it must be a qualified person who can work within the culture of the side."