Cricket: NZ captain is not a stupid boy

By Richard Boock

TAUPO - Needless to say, after a spring in which the entire nation steeled itself for India's expected demolition of the New Zealand cricketers, the argument now centres on whether we should have won by one test or two.

It is perhaps understandable, given that we are all so used to watching New Zealand wallop the major test nations. The idea of taking any satisfaction from a piffling 1-0 win over India must be hard for many to stomach, especially when
Stephen Fleming could have risked all at Hamilton in pursuit of 2-0.

Before the Bank of New Zealand test series began, Fleming was not expected to be making any declarations, apart from ones like "we can't bat to save ourselves," or that "the entire bowling attack's gone off for an x-ray." Anyone bold enough to suggest he might come out with "the innings closed at 464 for eight" risked being classed as a five-ball over.

Ironic though it is, after a couple of seasons of being labelled as green, precious, overpaid and soft, the New Zealand captain made one of the first hard-nosed decisions of his career at Hamilton, and for his trouble was immediately criticised for being too negative.

One would imagine he can live with that. One would also imagine he is now a firm disciple of the adge "you can't keep everyone happy."

In Hamilton, Fleming found himself in a situation where his decision was going to label him as either a sound and sensible cricket captain, or a stupid boy. If the tourists had chased and achieved a fourth-innings target - no matter how exhilerating the cricket - hello, stupid boy.

With three bowlers struggling to bowl in Simon Doull (who left with heatstroke), Daniel Vettori (at that stage, suspected broken finger) and Dion Nash (back-spasm), on a pitch which looked good for 10 days, let alone five, and with a 1-0 series lead already established, the New Zealand captain was never in any position to set a target.

Indian coach Ashuman Gaekwad laughed at the idea after the fourth day's play, saying that if his side were in the same position as the Kiwis, they would not consider declaring and allowing the other team into the game.

Even Australian captain Mark Taylor, already two-up in a three-test series, forced New Zealand to chase five an over at Hobart last season, and that was with a world-class attack including Shane Warne and the series win assured.

And considering that Greg Chappell was so concerned about Brian McKechnie's batting prowess that he instructed his brother to bowl underarm all those years ago, it seems reasonable to believe that Fleming may have viewed Sachin
Tendulkar as a possible threat in Hamilton as well.

The Kiwi skipper has now turned his attention to the one-day international series, the first game of which is tomorrow afternoon at Owen Delany Park in Taupo - the first one-day international to be played at the gorgeous lakeside resort.

At least he doesn't have to worry about a declaration.