KEY POINTS:
Stephen Fleming is either about to retire or is playing a dangerous game of brinkmanship.
These are the two scenarios thrown up by those who have taken the former one-day captain's omerta as a sign that sinister forces are at play.
Here's a third scenario which is more likely but less sexy: the former Twenty20 international genuinely doesn't know what he wants to do and feels any inconclusive utterances from afar will not assuage the conspiracy theories.
Confusing matters is the Indian Cricket League which, after being on shaky ground, has its feet firmly back under the table.
Fleming is reported to have been offered US$440,000 ($640,000) a year to play in the ICL, far more than he can earn in New Zealand.
"If you were offered half a million dollars for two months' work, what would you do?" a source told this newspaper.
Ideally, Fleming would probably like to do both but if he had to choose, then recent events are making the ICL seem a more attractive proposition by the day.
The Herald on Sunday understands that, while Fleming knew for some time he was unlikely to be part of the Black Caps side for the inaugural Twenty20 championships, his omission was still tough to take.
But he hasn't gone all Jacques Kallis on us by threatening an imminent retirement because he's probably been considering it anyway. He's instead kept a silence he probably feels is dignified, though New Zealand Cricket obviously feels it is counterproductive and confusing, judging by their understandable request for him to speak publicly to "clear the air".
But Fleming is in an awkward position. Those who have some insight into his thinking say he has always wanted to go out on his own terms. To help matters, he stated what his terms are - he wants to continue as test captain and remain as a one-day player before pulling the pin some time in the next few years.
There's a good chance he won't get everything he wants. That will obviously give him pause for thought. Don't we owe it to Fleming, our most successful captain and one of our greatest batsmen, to allow him this pause?
