By Anil - 4 Nov 2003
November 4 2003

NZ captain Stephen Fleming and his team have failed miserably to date in India, failing to win a single match on tour so far. His frustration now spills over into whinging about pitches. When New Zealand offered underprepared, unfit pitches for every one of 9 matches during India's tour there last winter, which resulted in the team winning the toss winning the match in nearly every case, Stephen Fleming regularly came up with provocative remarks designed to annoy the India team.

This seemingly overrated captain, evidence of whose much-touted leadership skills have been conspicuous by their absence on his tour to India, has ended up sounding a bit hypocritical as he stoops to whinging about pitch conditions in India.

Fleming has failed to provide leadership to his team. He has also been unable to contribute with the bat in any match, displayed negative tactics on the field, and batted in ODIs in a manner that would look negative even in a Test. He will now be hard pressed to keep his place in the team as New Zealand contemplate looking for a more positive captain, who can also contribute much-needed runs at the top of the order in both Tests and ODIs.

After winning the toss and bizarrely deciding to bat in his first matchup against Australia in Faridabad in seaming conditions (even though he had trumpetted ahead of the game that he would bowl if he won the toss), and the top half of his team caving in a pattern that has now become routine, NZ was embarassed by Aus into a heavily one-sided, humiliating ODI loss. Shrewd captaincy? Give me a break, this guy doesn't even know to bowl first in seaming conditions with a seam-heavy attack!

In the second ODI against Australia, the Kiwi top order failed again, but were rescued by their tail -- which is full of bits-and-pieces players who can bowl a bit -- against an inexperienced Aussie bowling attack. But a shocking number of dropped catches at crucial times cost them a game that they were well on course to winning after Australia's own top order collapsed in the same manner. Instead of admitting that he personally, as well as his team, had a very poor game, Fleming complained about having to play in seam-friendly conditions and batting first on both occasions. Perhaps he forgot that it was he who won the toss and decided to bat first in Faridabad?

Dileep Vengsarkar put it all in perspective when he said that the Pune wicket, on which NZ lost its second encounter against Australia, has been the best pitch so far in this tournament. Vengsarkar added that it was pathetic cricket from the Kiwis, who missed several opportunities that came their way in this game to put it away, which was mainly responsible for their loss. With both sides scoring 250+ runs and take 8 to 9 wickets each, it certainly looks far more like a sporting track with something in it for everyone than the severely unfit tracks in New Zealand where both New Zealand and India struggled to get to 100 in every game.

New Zealand came prepared for revenge in the form of square turners in India. Could they ever have imagined perishing on seam-friendly pitches? One could scarcely ask for a more ironic and fitting response to New Zealand's tactics when India visited them.

Here's hoping that Fleming loses the toss in the final game against Australia in Guwahati.