Stephen Fleming

He's been a more than decent batsman but he will be remembered more than anything else as a captain. NZ will always have limited resources compared to most of the other Test nations, being a country with a small population where the dominant sport is rugby but he dragged them from the depths of sub-Zimbabwe crapness in the late 90s and made them consistently competitive. Which is as much as anyone could have achieved.

Not forgetting leading Notts to a county championship title of course, shame he's not coming back for another go this season.

decent batsman, great to watch and a good (though slightly overrated) captain.

He'd make a good James Bond.

Demelza wrote:He'd make a good James Bond.

Well, he's got the right surname for it!

He got a good sending off yesterday (NO not the football type!!)

Looked slightly embarrassed too at the standing ovation ... with the English cricketers
huddled together applauding him off with the rest of the spectators..

Even Mrs Phlegm, heavily pregnant as she was, couldn't hold back a tear or two.

Well played Phlegmatic.
He only spent a short time at Middlesex CCC, but in that time he made several good friends and was highly respected.

Genuinely nice chap.

Basil wrote:

Demelza wrote:He'd make a good James Bond.

Well, he's got the right surname for it!

Hey, so he has!

Merlin, can't you cry if you're heavily pregnant then?

Demelza wrote:

Basil wrote:

Demelza wrote:He'd make a good James Bond.

Well, he's got the right surname for it!

Hey, so he has!

Merlin, can't you cry if you're heavily pregnant then?

Off course you can Dem ... it was an extremely touching scene ...
hence my colourful description.

He said it was tears of relief!

Phlegmatic as ever !!
I really do hope he does return to county cricket.
(Anyone know if he plans to??)

SG wrote:Fleming talking about getting his average in '40s and his low no. of test tons,

I am satisfied with 40 on the chest. It sets you apart, in terms of New Zealand batters anyway, ."

Noice backhanded compliment to give oneself.
At least Snoozers know their place

Have to admit that Fleming never came across as anything more than an average player with the occasional flash of brilliance.

Good luck to him with his future.

Josh Carney wrote:Have to admit that Fleming never came across as anything more than an average player with the occasional flash of brilliance.

Good luck to him with his future.

Aye, his numbers were decidely mediocre but he was an aesthetically pleasing batsman to watch play your side ie he possessed some attractive shots and you knew it wouldn't last long

Merlin wrote:Phlegmatic as ever !!
I really do hope he does return to county cricket.
(Anyone know if he plans to??)

From hearing him speak earlier it seems like he's hanging up the whites for good and only playing the limited overs game now, unless I misunderstood what he said - so that would rule out anything but a Twenty20 contract really if that's the case. Would be good to see him back at Notts for another season though.

Fleming also managed to play 111 test matches without once succumbing to the temptation of rolling the arm over. Not even for one over!

111 tests and 45 50's.... Thats not quite as mediocre as he stats suggest, however it does means he converted a p1sshole amount, which IMO where he let himself down as a batter, and hence he will always be classed as a great captain, one of the best snoozer batters, but on a world level no great shakes!

But a fantastic bloke to boot!

Fleming was a fine player and New Zealand are going to miss him in their all ready shaky batting line up. I saw him play twice, once at Lords on his first tour to England and again when he toured in 2004 at Headingley, where he got out in the 90's. Failing to convert a fifty into a hundred, which as plenty have pointed out was his biggest flaw as a player.

I've always wondered how good a batsman Fleming would have been if he hadn't been New Zealand's captain for 90% of his career. He had the talent to average about 45, imo.

WideWally wrote:Fleming also managed to play 111 test matches without once succumbing to the temptation of rolling the arm over. Not even for one over!

Must be close to being the most Tests by a player who didn't bowl at all! I wonder if his bowling's as bad as Chris Martin's batting...

(Edit: He's got a JAMODI wicket to his name. Had to look up who that was... Marcel Schewe of Holland, in the 1996 World Cup. Says it all really, Cricinfo doesn't even state what he bowls!)

And to answer my own question, only Ian Healy has played more Tests without bowling a ball.

Very fine batsman to watch. If he'd converted at a reasonable rate, probably would have averaged closer to 50 than 40. Godo batsman, good captain, good bloke by all accounts. Will be missed.

holcs wrote:111 tests and 45 50's.... Thats not quite as mediocre as he stats suggest, however it does means he converted a p1sshole amount, which IMO where he let himself down as a batter, and hence he will always be classed as a great captain, one of the best snoozer batters, but on a world level no great shakes!

But a fantastic bloke right hunk to boot!

Fixed.

freddled gruntbuggly wrote:

holcs wrote:111 tests and 45 50's.... Thats not quite as mediocre as he stats suggest, however it does means he converted a p1sshole amount, which IMO where he let himself down as a batter, and hence he will always be classed as a great captain, one of the best snoozer batters, but on a world level no great shakes!

But a fantastic bloke right hunk to boot!

Fixed.

Does that mean my spelling ans grammar were ok Tails?

I didn't notice. Too busy drooling over the delectable Stephen . . .

freddled gruntbuggly wrote:I didn't notice. Too busy drooling over the delectable Stephen . . .

I have found a way around your pedantry!! Marvellous!

You could always have flashed your marvellous body at me . . .