Cricket: Fleming walking after surgery

By Richard Boock

New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming is in a race against time to be fit for the first test against South Africa, which begins in Auckland on February 27.

Fleming, the 25-year-old left-hander, was discharged from St George's Hospital in Christchurch yesterday following an operation to repair a troublesome groin tendon injury, and his surgeon expects a full recuperation to take six weeks.

Surgery to release the adductor longus tendon in the right side of Fleming's groin came after a year of pain for the Kiwi skipper, who was forced from the field during New Zealand's first one-dayer against India at Taupo on January 9.

Orthopaedic surgeon Paul Armour reported yesterday that the operation had gone well.

"This morning Mr Fleming was comfortable and walking without crutches," he said.

Armour described the injury as "adductor enthosopathy" - a microscopic tear of tendon at its origin from the pelvis. The surgical procedure divides the tendon, allowing it to heal.

Meanwhile, Fleming's team-mate Nathan Astle will have the cast removed from his hand on Monday and hopes to be playing within a fortnight.

Top-order batsman Astle broke a bone in his hand during the second test at Wellington and was sidelined for the third test and following one-day series.

Astle's recovery was slowed because the bone had not joined correctly, prompting doctors to apply a cast to speed the mending process.

New Zealand's other member of the walking wounded brigade is making much better progress. Left-arm paceman Geoff Allott suffered a hamstring tear during the one-dayer in Napier, forcing him out of the showdowns at Auckland and Christchurch.

However, he is already back in training and hopes to be available for next weekend's semifinals of the Shell Cup.