Fleming likely to play at Brisbane

New Zealand are likely to be boosted by the presence of Stephen Fleming, their captain, for the first Test against Australia which starts at the Gabba in Brisbane next Thursday. Fleming had been battling a mystery virus since his return from the tour of Bangladesh, and sources suggest that he is on the road to recovery, despite failing to complete a training session in Wellington on Friday.

According to a report on Sportal, Fleming could manage only 15 minutes of batting in the nets before he decided he couldn't carry on. However, he will fly into Sydney on Saturday afternoon, and team officials expect him to be fit to make the XI for the first Test.

Daniel Vettori and Nathan Astle, who missed the warm-up game against New South Wales with shoulder and back injuries, are both expected to be fit in time to face the Australians, who are coming off a series win in India.

The last time New Zealand crossed the Tasman Sea, they surprisingly held Australia to a 0-0 draw in a series interrupted by inclement weather. However, if they are without Fleming - whose batting has been as instrumental as his captaincy in their recent successes - few will fancy their chances of repeating that feat.