Cricket: Fleming faces up to criticism

Stephen Fleming returned home from South Africa yesterday with no intention of giving up the captaincy of the New Zealand cricket team, despite the criticism he has faced.

New Zealand's most successful test captain said he still enjoyed the challenge, and he was proud to hold the position.

Fleming's tactics during the four-month tour of Africa were questioned, and it was suggested the job was affecting his batting.

He expects his captaincy to be discussed at the tour debriefing in Christchurch on Monday, after New Zealand did not win any of the internationals in South Africa.

Team management, the national selectors, New Zealand Cricket's operations manager John Reid and possibly chief executive Christopher Doig will also attend the debriefing.

Fleming admitted that aspects of his captaincy could have been better, and that his batting lacked the consistency he had wanted.

He was disappointed that coach David Trist would be ending his two-year term next September.

"David's management and communicating skills are outstanding," Fleming said.

"He understands the players and the game, and it was a tribute to him the tour ran so smoothly."

The South African tour was frustrating, particularly because experienced bowlers were injured.

South Africa were a formidable side, and there were times when he stood at first slip wishing he had bowlers of the calibre of Chris Cairns and Daniel Vettori at his disposal.

Most disappointing was that the generally experienced batting lineup did not produce bigger totals, only once passing 300 in the tests.

- NZPA

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