Comments on: A fitting end for Fleming http://squaredrive.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/a-fitting-end-for-fleming/ Random transport, cricket and politics in NZ Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:04:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: squaredrive http://squaredrive.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/a-fitting-end-for-fleming/#comment-35 squaredrive Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:19:23 +0000 http://squaredrive.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-35 Perhaps on the captaincy, Mishri - at least you provide argument to back your claim. That is my key complaint on media comments about Fleming's captaincy skills - they never back their comments up with facts. I would note Fleming had the greatest pool of talent any NZ side has mustered (Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, Geoff Allott, Chris Harris, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Daniel Vettori, etc) during his time. Not as strong as Australia, but when Shane Bond came in it gave Flem enough to take it to the Ozzies. He did outhink the Ozzies on preplaned tactics against certain batsmen like Langer, but thinking on the field was never a strong point for Flem. One strange thing - Fleming never seemed comfortable setting fields for left hand bowlers (Vettori, Allott, Shayne O'Connor, James Franklin), despite Flem being a southpaw himself. Flem always seemed to make changes a couple of overs too late. Interested in any thoughts on that... Perhaps on the captaincy, Mishri - at least you provide argument to back your claim. That is my key complaint on media comments about Fleming’s captaincy skills - they never back their comments up with facts.

I would note Fleming had the greatest pool of talent any NZ side has mustered (Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, Geoff Allott, Chris Harris, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Daniel Vettori, etc) during his time. Not as strong as Australia, but when Shane Bond came in it gave Flem enough to take it to the Ozzies. He did outhink the Ozzies on preplaned tactics against certain batsmen like Langer, but thinking on the field was never a strong point for Flem.

One strange thing - Fleming never seemed comfortable setting fields for left hand bowlers (Vettori, Allott, Shayne O’Connor, James Franklin), despite Flem being a southpaw himself. Flem always seemed to make changes a couple of overs too late. Interested in any thoughts on that…

]]> By: mishri http://squaredrive.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/a-fitting-end-for-fleming/#comment-26 mishri Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:29:51 +0000 http://squaredrive.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-26 Very cool post--you haven't taken the familiar route of deifying Fleming, as he retires. Especially interesting to see his stats broken down by domestic v overseas. I disagree with your stance on his captaincy though. Fleming had a much lower win rate than Waugh because he had much fewer resources to work with than Waugh did. A captain's only as good as his players, and it's obvious that Fleming had maybe half the resources that Waugh did in terms of high-quality test bowlers and batsmen. Still, Fleming was a brilliant tactician-- remember the tour of 2001 (or was it 2002?) when NZ went to Australia, and nearly beat the Aussies ? That mostly happened because of Flem's tactical brilliance. His field placings to Langer were especially sharp. Very cool post–you haven’t taken the familiar route of deifying Fleming, as he retires. Especially interesting to see his stats broken down by domestic v overseas.

I disagree with your stance on his captaincy though. Fleming had a much lower win rate than Waugh because he had much fewer resources to work with than Waugh did. A captain’s only as good as his players, and it’s obvious that Fleming had maybe half the resources that Waugh did in terms of high-quality test bowlers and batsmen. Still, Fleming was a brilliant tactician– remember the tour of 2001 (or was it 2002?) when NZ went to Australia, and nearly beat the Aussies ? That mostly happened because of Flem’s tactical brilliance. His field placings to Langer were especially sharp.

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