Fleming attacks supersub bungle

Stephen Fleming has launched a withering attack on the handling of the supersub law, even threatening to bypass the bungled experiment in today's opening one-dayer against the West Indies.

Introduced last year to general disbelief among the game's stakeholders, the substitution trial was supposed to run until June, but has already been condemned by the ICC and will almost certainly be shelved next month.

So dismayed is Fleming about the experiment he's now exploring the possibility of a gentleman's agreement between himself and West Indies skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul, along the lines of naming a sub (as required by the rules) but not using one.

The issue is particularly relevant to the West Indies, who haven't played an ODI since last August and will be exposed to the universally rubbished trial for the first, and probably last, time, this month.

"It's been discussed already," Fleming said of the gentleman's agreement.

"I'm not sure how it would wash but I've asked them to look at the options. It sounds very much like common sense if it did take place.

Fleming believed it was absurd the West Indies were being forced to trial the new law for just one series, and suggested that if Chanderpaul and his management team agreed, he'd be willing to fly in the face of ICC convention.

"It seems strange, especially from the West Indian point of view, having to learn how to play it and then having to forget about it. It doesn't make any sense," he said. "But if I was in their position I'd be interested.

"They haven't played under the experimental rules, and there are some subtleties that Shiv's going to have to adapt to. I'd jump at it."

The New Zealand skipper wasn't confident that the two teams would be allowed to pursue their own agenda, particularly as the rule has so far only been recommended for the scrap-heap, and the final decision is still pending.

And then there's the issue of collusion, and the danger of being in breach of the ICC's Code of Conduct.

"It was talked about yesterday [Thursday] so I guess we'll find out more soon," Fleming said.

"I can't see it changing, to be honest, but hopefully it will be discussed more.

"For me, the game's always been about 11 versus 11. They're tinkering with it. The whole concept has been flawed. The motivation for introducing it was flawed, and the results from it show that it was flawed.

"Why play 12 against 12? The game's been great for a long time now; what's the need for change? I can't see the advantage of what they're trying to do. I'm sure they intended well, but it hasn't worked."

New Zealand manager Lindsay Crocker confirmed yesterday that the issue of an unofficial agreement was discussed by the team, but could neither confirm nor deny it would be pursued further.

"We've chatted about it amongst ourselves but as far as I'm aware we haven't approached any one from the West Indies, and I'm not sure whether we will or not."

Meanwhile, West Indian allrounder Dawyne Bravo was missing from practice yesterday after suffering a slight side strain in Thursday night's Twenty20, but will still be considered for today's opening one-dayer.

As for New Zealand, Fleming said he was particularly interested in the form of Shane Bond today, following the paceman's encouraging spell at Eden Park, where he bowled consistently at 147km/h and regularly hurried the batsmen.

"Yes, I was encouraged by Bondy's performance last night, and he was as well," said Fleming.


 The Teams

* New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Vettori, Jeetan Patel, James Franklin, Michael Mason, Shane Bond.

* West Indies (from): Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain), Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Runako Morton, Wavell Hinds, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Ian Bradshaw, Deighton Butler, Jerome Taylor, Rawl Lewis, Fidel Edwards.

* Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa), Tony Hill (New Zealand).