Cricket: Fleming to lead XI in masters match

Stephen Fleming will return to the cricket field next month - captaining a New Zealand Cricket Players Association Masters XI in a Twenty20 fixture against an Australian XI on February 25 at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

The 37-year-old's involvement in cricket since his relatively premature international retirement, less than three years ago, has been limited.

He coached the Chennai Super Kings to victory in the third version of the Indian Premier League and prefers to be regarded as a mentor, rather than an agent, for the likes of current Black Caps Brendon McCullum, Tim Southee and James Franklin.

No names have been confirmed in the Australian team but it's understood those being chased still have, or have recently had, involvement with the game at the Twenty20 level such as Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden.

The match is being pitched to them as a suitable "warm-up" to the Indian Premier League resuming in April.

Other names confirmed in the New Zealand team are Craig McMillan and Bryan Young. Former Black Caps Nathan Astle, Shane Thomson and Matthew Hart are being chased.

Northern Districts chief executive David Cooper says they are looking to make the match an annual fixture, under the brand 'Titans International Twenty20' to reflect the fact it will always give fans a chance to pay tribute to some of the 'titans' of the modern New Zealand cricket era.

Negotiations are under way to televise the match.