Cricket: He's on his way but Flem's still not feeling that flash

By DYLAN CLEAVER and GREGOR PAUL


A health cloud was still hanging over New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming as he flew out to join his team-mates in Sydney yesterday. Fleming told the Herald on Sunday that he was still feeling the effects of the illness that has struck him down since leaving Bangladesh.

"I'm still not 100 per cent," Fleming admitted. He has been suffering from chronic fatigue since returning from the test series in Bangladesh, and underwent blood tests to identify the source of his complaints. There was concern expressed he might have picked up a malarial condition, but that has now been ruled out.

Fleming wouldn't elaborate on the findings, but said New Zealand Cricket had the medical information.

He will hold a press conference in Sydney this morning where it is expected he will give more detail about his condition.

The first test against Australia begins in Brisbane on Thursday and it would be a bitter blow if Fleming was to miss out. Not only is he the skipper, but he is by some margin the best batsman and has scored runs in Brisbane before. His last innings was a double century at Chittagong.

"I'm feeling a lot better," said Fleming. "I want to get over there (Australia) and get amongst the environment and am looking forward to the test on Thursday. A lot of it depends on how I train. I had a light training yesterday which went okay.

"I'm not sure about the virus - chronic viral fatigue are the words that have been used. It just zapped for me the week that I got back (from Bangladesh). I have just been trying to get the energy back and sleeping a lot of hours. It's a strange illness to have had and, as I say, very frustrating.

"I will give a very honest assessment of where I am at. I will do everything that it takes to get there, including eating a lot of energy bars. I'm reasonably confident I'll be there, but it's not until I get two days of practice that I will really know."