28 October 1998
Fleming receives Kent call
By Geoffrey Dean
MATTHEW FLEMING was yesterday named to captain Kent next summer
after a committee meeting recommended the 33-year-old former
Green Jackets subaltern should succeed Steve Marsh.
Fleming arrives back from Bangladesh tomorrow with the rest of
the England one-day party, having been informed of his
appointment by Kent coach John Wright.
Fleming led the Army team in the mid-Eighties but his experience
of captaincy at first-class level is restricted to a single game
last summer against Oxford University.
A forthright character, Fleming has a colourful family history.
The Fleming clan, with roots in Scotland, own about 40 per cent
of the London-based merchant bank, Robert Fleming. His uncle was
chairman and his great uncle, Ian, wrote the James Bond books.
Kent's disappointing season after they finished runners-up in
three competitions in 1997 was the major factor in the decision
to replace Marsh, who said he was "disappointed and hurt" at
losing the job.
"I'm out of contract and I've got to sit down and think about
things and decide if I want to stay with Kent," said Marsh.
All-rounder Neil Smith, 31, completed a notable family double
last night with his appointment as Warwickshire's 14th post-war
captain. His father, M J K, now the club chairman, held the
office from 1957 to 1967 and also captained England in 25 of his
50 Tests.
The younger Smith has leapfrogged above Nick Knight, who
continues as vice-captain, and Tim Munton, the former captain who
missed the 1997 season through injury. Smith, who takes over from
Brian Lara, led the side in one-day competitions in that summer
when Warwickshire won the AXA League and reached the Natwest
Trophy final.
Jack Birkenshaw, who coached Leicestershire to the County
Championship and Benson and Hedges Cup final, has been recruited
by England to oversee two pre-tour squad training sessions for
this winter's Carlton and United One-Day International Series in
Australia.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)