Fleming may opt for early retirement

Stephen Fleming could end his Test career earlier than expected with the home series against England looming as a possible farewell for the former captain. Fleming had been tipped to continue until the return tour of England, which finishes in June, however a report in the Herald on Sunday said that now seemed unlikely.

The paper said Fleming's wife was expecting their second baby in June, which might contribute to an early call. That would leave the selectors with more headaches ahead of the England trip, with their Test line-up already losing Nathan Astle, Scott Styris, Shane Bond and the fringe players Craig McMillan and Hamish Marshall in the past 13 months.

John Bracewell, the coach, said it he was not bothered if Fleming chose to say goodbye in the third Test against England in Napier in late March. "My understanding was that Stephen wanted to go on and play the England series in England," Bracewell told Monday's New Zealand Herald. "But it doesn't surprise me and doesn't particularly concern me.

"It's always disappointing to lose experience, but it's also an exciting time for selectors to pick and see the development of youngsters. The young men we've selected in this particular round so far have shown some great attributes for the international game. There are kids out there who want a crack."

Fleming's departure would mark the end of a significant era in New Zealand Test cricket, as he is the country's most capped player, highest run scorer, longest serving captain and leading catcher. He held a similar swag of records in one-day internationals when he ended his career in that format last year.