Cricket: Fleming not going to Surrey

1.00pm

New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming will not be reunited with his former coach Steve Rixon next year after talks with the English county Surrey broke down.

Fleming was set to join Surrey, but they were not satisfied with his availability for the 2005 season, despite New Zealand not having a winter tour next year.

"It is obviously disappointing for us that Steve will not be involved next year," Surrey coach Rixon was quoted as saying on the Cricinfo website.

"Unfortunately, due to his availability, he will not be able to do the job that I wanted him to do here. Consequently, we are now pursuing other options."

Fleming played county cricket for Middlesex in 2001 and Yorkshire last year.

New Zealand's top players are free of international commitments from when the tour by Australia ends in April to the tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa in September.

- NZPA