Cricket: Low blow as gloves come off

By RICHARD BOOCK in Hamilton

It's shaping up as pots and pans at 10 paces for rival captains Stephen Fleming and Graeme Smith following another verbal joust at yesterday's pre-test media conference.

Having already set a cat among the antelope when he targeted Smith in the fifth one-dayer, Fleming continued on his merry way yesterday, making reference to an anti-New Zealand story on the front page of yesterday's Herald, and saying he was prepared for more unpleasantries in the first test.

His remarks followed the reported comments of South African vice-captain Mark Boucher, who told the Republic-based Sunday Times that Fleming would be under pressure to live up to his statements after "shouting his mouth off" in the one-dayers.

Rather than responding immediately to questions about Boucher's comments, Fleming chose to highlight yesterday's front-page story about a small group of disgruntled South African migrants who were complaining on a website about New Zealand's lack of sophistication (not to mention "domestic help").

"No, I'm not concerned," he said of Boucher's remarks.

"I saw the headline about it in the sports news, but I was more interested in the front page, actually. There was an interesting story there."

It might have been a lowish blow in the scheme of things, but it confirmed suggestions that the gloves will be off when the test series begins this morning, and that both sides will be ready to take any psychological advantage on offer.

"I think there's probably going to be some niggle, as there is in top international sport," Fleming said.

"But I certainly have no issues with Graeme Smith or the South Africans. As far as I'm concerned, it'll be competitive, but whatever approach they want to take is up to them. Reading from the paper it might be verbal, and so be it."

Fleming said he was prepared for the South Africans to throw everything possible at his side when the match started, and was not under any illusions about the reception he might receive when batting.

"I'll probably get some, but as I say I'm not too bothered. I'm only concerned with winning this test.

"If that's the approach they want to take, we've been there before and it's not new."

Smith, having been forced on to the back foot after his team were beaten in the one-dayers, was less provocative with his comments, but agreed the test was likely to be a tense affair and possibly more so for New Zealand.

"They [New Zealand] have made a few statements and that does put them under extra pressure, which I guess is what Mark was alluding to.

"But I don't think there's any ill-feeling off the field.

"I think it's just both sides being competitive and playing their hardest, and doing what it takes to win for their country. I know that's how we feel."