Cricket: Fleming - I need big innings

KWEKWE - New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming is putting the heat on himself to lead his batsmen to the magical three figures in the upcoming test series against Zimbabwe.

Fleming's ability to get out between 50 and 100 reached new heights last season when he claimed the world test record for the worst conversion rate of half-centuries.

His record of 24 half-centuries and just two centuries -129 against England in Auckland in 1996-97 and 174 not out against Sri Lanka in Colombo the next season - irks no one more than Fleming himself.

It is something he freely admits is priority No 1 on this tour.

"I've got to convert into a big score. That's what it's all about and that's how we're going to measure the success of the tour," Fleming said.

"It's holding me back and holding the team back from advancing, and that's the most important thing.

"I accept that my record is the worst at converting, so if I start doing it and the other guys start doing it as well, then we're on our way."

Fleming got out between 50 and 100 three times in his eight test innings at home last season, still leaving him with the respectable average of 37.15 from 51 tests. But the problem was not his alone.

New Zealand batsmen reached half-centuries 13 times in the five home tests, but only twice - Mathew Sinclair's 214 against the West Indies and Chris Cairns' 109 against Australia - did they reach three figures.

It is something which will be rammed home to all the batsmen before the first test starting in Bulawayo on Tuesday.

"We've got to a certain level in the test rankings without a lot of hundreds. To take us to the next level we need hundreds and that's obviously a big part of my game that needs to improve," Fleming said.

New Zealand's next test win will also be a significant milestone for Fleming. It will make him New Zealand's joint most successful test captain alongside Geoff Howarth, who had 11 victories.

But the task will be tough, with slow, low pitches and negative field settings a hallmark of playing in Zimbabwe. New Zealand have won only once in Zimbabwe in four tests, by 177 runs in Harare in 1992.

While he agreed it might be a case of having to "out-bore" the opposition, he backed his batsmen to try to take control.

"We've still got to be aggressive. We've got the players who can dominate batting-wise and push on, but it's just a matter of taking 20 wickets," he said. "If the wickets aren't conducive, it's going to be hard toil. But if you get enough balls to bowl at them, it's possible."

- NZPA