Get over the batting average
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
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Stephen Fleming could leave the ball with more style than most batsmen muster with a strike, says Chris Rattue in the New Zealand Herald. He's particularly unimpressed by the buzz surrounding Fleming's quest to average over 40 in Test cricket.
It's been obvious for years that Fleming's career would fall short of expectations if it needed to be judged by numbers, that his above-average talent would not be reflected in the averages column.
The last batsman to go out with so much emphasis on his average was Don Bradman, and that WAS important. In contrast, 40 is virtually a non-event as a benchmark in world cricket, even if Fleming's departure has seen it drummed up as mildly significant here.
Fleming's game was about far more than numbers or even captaincy, over which he is lauded by some and politely clapped by others.
It is his elegance and grace with the bat that should, hopefully, be long remembered with extreme fondness. It might be a long time before we produce another player to relish watching on this score.
Mathew Varghese is sub-editor (stats) at Cricinfo