By RICHARD BOOCK
Stephen Fleming rates yesterday's record-breaking win over Pakistan as the most complete performance in which he has been involved as captain.
New Zealand romped to an astonishing innings and 185-run victory in the final test at Hamilton to square the series, leaving Fleming over the moon at his
side's improvement though the year.
It was the biggest win in New Zealand's test history, surpassing the margin of the 1983-84 side, who managed to knock England over in a couple of days and win by an innings and 132 runs.
Fleming, New Zealand's longest and most successful captain, has now extended his winning record to 13 wins from 36 tests, and was understandably in upbeat mood after his side wrapped up yesterday's match with a day to spare.
"That was as close to the perfect test as you can play," he said afterwards. "I'm absolutely delighted. It's the best performance I've been involved in; the most complete, that's for sure.
"We've ended up finishing the second half of the season strongly. To win the one-day series showed lots of fortitude, as did the comeback here, considering what happened in the first test."
He acknowledged how helpful it was to win the toss. The pitch had played a part in New Zealand's taking the early initiative.
New Zealand were buried in the first test on a turning portable pitch and could gain no advantage on another portable pitch at Jade Stadium, which turned out to be a batsman's paradise.
"I think Pakistan were psyched out by the pitch a little," Fleming said. "Then again, our bowling performance in the second innings was a hundred times better than it was in the first innings.
"The bounce in the pitch was the key for us. There was good carry and bounce here and I think that's something that you don't often get on the subcontinent.
"The two pitches before this were low and slow and we found it harder - figure it out yourselves."
Having played nine tests since September, New Zealand suffered a horrendous injury toll in Africa and ended the season with a line-up unrecognisable from the one which started.
"There were always going to be benefits from the injuries in that we would be expanding our pool of players," Fleming said. "But you still need results to keep everyone happy, and it was frustrating for a while."
