Cricket: Middlesex confident of getting Fleming

By RICHARD BOOCK and NZPA

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is set to play his cricket for English county side Middlesex next year.

The 27-year-old left-hander has either signed or is on the point of signing with the Lord's-based club as their overseas player for next season.

He will replace batsman Justin Langer, who will be touring England with Australia.

Fleming would not comment yesterday, preferring to leave the announcement in the hands of his lawyer, David Howman, and New Zealand Cricket.

But if Middlesex chief excecutive Vinny Codrington is as good as his word, Fleming will have his name on the dotted line within a fortnight.

"I have spoken to Stephen and he is very confident that he will sign before Christmas," Codrington told the London Evening Standard.

Fleming, who is on his way home after the tourists' 0-2 defeat in South Africa, came into contention after New Zealand team-mate and all-rounder Chris Cairns was ruled out because of a knee problem.

In Langer's absence, Middlesex will be led by former England seamer Angus Fraser and will include left-arm spinner Phil Tufnell and possibly former test batsman Mark Ramprakash, if he is denied a transfer.

Middlesex chairman Phil Edmonds has apparently met Ramprakash to reiterate that the England standby batsman will not be allowed to join another county unless a player of similar stature is organised in exchange.

The Middlesex committee is reportedly unhappy about the way Ramprakash was ready to leave before his benefit year had ended.

The only downside of the move for Fleming is that Middlesex are a second-division side.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Christopher Doig said it would support Fleming getting experience in England, but "it couldn't be at the expense of his New Zealand commitments."

"History would suggest batsmen actually prosper from it [county cricket]," Doig said. It was a very good thing for Glenn Turner, John Wright, Geoff Howarth and others.

"Most of the county sides have Australian batsmen and they prosper. It's a different scenario for the batsmen than it is for the bowlers."

Doig said he had told Howman what guarantees NZC would require.

"We would be supportive providing he is cleared to play for New Zealand when we need him."

Fleming's stint at Lord's would probably overlap with the New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka in June and July, although details of that tour are yet to be completed.

The scheduled tour of Pakistan in September coincides with the end of the English summer.

The editor of Wisden, Graeme Wright, said that county cricket could be the making of Fleming as a batsman.

"It would be a good career move if he wants to continue playing as a top test batsman," Wright said.

"It would be as good for him as it would be for New Zealand. He will learn a lot and grow in confidence."

Wright said Fleming had slipped into bad habits and a season on awkward English pitches could provide the solution.

"He is a good man on hard pitches, but needs to tighten his technique with the ball seaming about.

"It would be very good for him, as a batsman, to play county cricket and get out of a few little habits.

"Stephen has a fine personality and is well respected in England," Wright said. "Langer joined Middlesex about the same age Fleming is now.

"In three years he went from struggling to fill the No 3 spot to a key batsman in the Australian line-up.

"Last year, Langer was the highest run-scorer in test cricket. If there are comparisons there, it certainly gives Fleming a target to realise his potential."

Dion Nash played for Middlesex three years ago, but was hampered by a back injury.