Bob Willis - Sky Sports Expert

Farewell to Fleming

Posted: 25th March 2008 08:54

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Stephen Fleming Last innings Napier March 2008

Fleming: farwell to an ambassador

I felt sorry for Stephen Fleming as captain, he never really had the side around him to make him one of the most successful captains of all time but he did win more Test matches that he lost with a very ordinary team.

Bob Willis
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David Lloyd and Bob Willis led the praise for retiring New Zealand ex-captain Stephen Fleming on Tuesday in Napier, the day he played his last innings for his country.

Fleming, who captained New Zealand 80 times in Test matches between 1997 and 2006, scored 66 in New Zealand's pursuit of 551, just enough to make sure his career average will be the right side of 40 when all is said and done in Napier.

Tears were shed, by Fleming's wife and perhaps a few others in the crowd, and it was an emotional farewell to a much-loved and admired cricketer.

England gave him a guard of honour as he came to the crease and lined-up for a standing ovation when he was caught by Tim Ambrose off Monty Panesar, and Lloyd said it was a mark of respect for a "great ambassador".

"Not a dry eye in the house," said Lloyd to Sky Sports at the close of play. "Elegant, stylish and that is Stephen Fleming. A great ambassador for New Zealand cricket.

"He will be telling fibs also if he said that he didn't feel a little bit of emotion there. He has been a fine player and he has got to his little, magical average of 40.

"(There is) a lot of respect for Stephen Fleming worldwide, the way that he conducted himself and the way that he got the best out of the team. He is just a stylish ambassador, an elegant lad; he really is.

"He'll be playing some cricket but Mrs Fleming will have him in the house and under her feet now, like we all did."

Willis agreed with his co-commentator, saying Fleming proved himself an excellent captain against the best teams in the world despite playing with a relatively weak New Zealand side.

"He has been the perfect frontman for New Zealand cricket," he said. "He is an excellent example to any young player coming into the game about how you conduct yourself on the field.

"He is a tough competitor. He sometimes gives the impression maybe of being too much of a gentleman but he has locked horns with the Australians, the best team in the world, he has worked out ways of getting their best players out with a limited bowling attack.

"I felt sorry for him as captain, he never really had the side around him to make him one of the most successful captains of all time but he did win more Test matches that he lost with a very ordinary team."

Comments

Robert O'connell says...

Cricket has lost one of the few remaining gentlemen of the game. A great amdbassador not only for his country but the sport of cricket at large. His unruffled, calm and calculated approach to the game willl be sorely missed.

Posted 01:38 27th March 2008

Tom Jameson says...

Fleming truly was a credit to New Zealand. He was a fine batsman who often didn't get the scores that reflected his ability. Whilst he was a fine batsman, he was a sensational captain and that is what he will be remembered for around the world. I'll never forget the series when the Kiwis were in Australia which proved to be the height of Fleming's captaincy - a 0-0 draw with the best side in the world. Some of the fields he set in that series were incredible. How in one of the games when batting second he memorably declared when the scores were level rather than going on, as many captains would, to try and gain an advantage with a first innings lead. One of the greatest minds ever to play the game .

Posted 20:57 25th March 2008

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