"No instructions, you're running the ship"

In the book Cricketing Memories, a compilation of anecdotes from various cricketers across the world, the Australian batsman, Neil Harvey talks about his captaincy experience on the 1961 tour of England. The incumbent skipper Richie Benaud had withdrawn on the eve of the second test and Harvey, by virtue of being a senior player, had been given his first (and only) taste of the job. Naturally, he decided to visit Benaud privately and ask him if he had any advice. The story, as depicted in a cartoon beside the text, goes that the smiling Benaud tells him "No instructions. You're running the ship.", to which Harvey salutes him saying "Aye, aye, captain!". Australia went on to win the test and Harvey essentially expresses his admiration for Benaud, who despite his own standing had enough belief in Harvey's individualism to let him do his own thing. He (Benaud) realised he was confined to the sidelines and it was the man in charge on the field who mattered.

I mention this story because of the clash of ideals which seems to have plagued New Zealand cricket ever since John Bracewell took over as coach. In that period, New Zealand have become a solid one day side but distinctly third best, as the world cup proved. The apparent counterbalance has been a steady decline in the side's test performances. In a country where sheep outnumber people, rugby towers over cricket, and one dayers are way more attended than tests, such a tradeoff may seem acceptable. But to me it suggests a side which has simply not played to its potential of late, and more alarmingly, allowing itself to wallow in mediocrity. The issue of John Bracewell's high profile role in NZ selection and tactics may have been done to death already in the press, but it's worth looking at again in the aftermath of the World Cup.

Stephen Fleming probably came of age as captain on that tour to Australia in 2001-02. He realised, with the team he had at his disposal, that beating or staying on par with Australia would mean a war of attrition. Thus in the tests the batsmen played with uncharacteristic patience, leaving everything McGrath served up outside off, but at the same time attacking Warne and never allowing him to settle. In the field he used his slower bowlers (such as astle and McMillan) to effectively to tie up one end, while Cairns and Vettori caused problems for the Aussie batsmen whom he had studied to perfection. He was able to exploit their weaknesses throughout the tour and almost inflicted a home series defeat on them. He was in complete control of the team and most situations.

That, however, was in the Dennis Aberhert era. Such organised blunting of the opposition has rarely been seen since. Under Bracewell, Fleming has generally been under way too much pressure to live up to the bold statements made by Braces, who loves the limelight. A notable instance was the one about 'pushing the Aussies into a fifth day' back in Novemeber 2004 at the Gabba. The comment was ridiculed in the Aussie press and fell flat on its face when NZ were skittled out for 76 on the fourth day. Bracewell's methods, whether related to team strategy or media relations, have effectively undermined Fleming's dynamism and cramped his style. His continued selection of Hamish Marshall to no avail last season was an example of the stubborn streak which has characterised his running of the side.

At 34, Fleming will remain captain of the test side which is scheduled to tour South Africa for the second consecutive year. During last year's series, which NZ lost 2-0, Fleming was noticably frustrated at the ineptness of some of the players. He did a fair job of leading by example, but could only look on as his side wasted one hard-won session after another. He has a chance to put that right this time, with a lineup which could be boosted with the return of Shane Bond. Silence from the kiwi camp seems to indicate that Bracewell will continue. If New Zealand's test performances are to improve, maybe it's time for change.

The point of this article was to highlight how Fleming's thoughtful leadership, which has been a key factor in the evolution of NZ cricket in the last decade, has been effectively undermined in the last few years. With the one day captaincy off his shoulders and likely to be taken up by Daniel Vettori, Fleming can possibly look forward to concentrating more the test side as he plots South Africa's downfall later in the year. But for test success to be possible, perhaps he needs a little more leeway from the coach.