Let the mind games begin

Fleming's needle helped New Zealand to a 5-1 triumph in the last ODI series between the two teams © Getty Images

It could so easily have been just another run-of-the-mill one-day international in a cricket calendar so full of them that it's hard to remember matches last week, let alone last year. But when Stephen Fleming got inside Graeme Smith's head with a calculated and very public tirade during South Africa's tour to New Zealand in 2003-04 it ensured that anybody who was at the ground, and in particular the South African captain, would never forget it.

It has also dictated that South Africa-New Zealand clashes involving these two combatants would retain an edge that went beyond traditional rivalry. As Smith walked to the wicket to help South Africa chase down a revised target of 178 from 29 overs in a match they had to win to have a chance of drawing the six-match series, Fleming let loose a verbal half-volley against the young captain. Smith couldn't help himself, engaging in a shouting-and finger-pointing match that left nothing to the imagination in terms of tone and content.

On Fleming's part, it seemed to work. Smith soon gave his wicket away with an undignified charge and hoik across the line. New Zealand clung on to victory. Afterwards, Smith conceded he was stunned by Fleming's onslaught. For his part, Fleming remained cold and calculating, explaining he had "detected" a weakness in Smith's make-up that he felt he could exploit.

"He's pretty emotional and we tapped into that a couple of times but that's something he'll learn," Fleming said post-series. "It was never personal; I made it personal in one game to get the edge." For the record, the pair had dinner during the third match of the Test series that followed, in which Smith made a courageous match-winning 125 not out to leave the honours even at 1-1 after New Zealand had won the one-day series 5-1.

So did the dining conviviality signal the end of the rivalry? Not a chance. No matter how much they talk about mutual respect, hostilities will resume in earnest when the first of five one-dayers begins on Sunday. South Africans, it seems, by nature have long memories and Smith will be keen to get one over Fleming on home turf. It will be no surprise to see him try to twist the knife if given the opportunity.

Despite their eight-year age difference, this series - and the Test series that follows in April due to a calendar clash - will be defined by the skippers' differences, or perhaps more pertinently, their similarities. Fleming, 32, and Smith were both made captains of their countries at a ludicrously young age. Both will set national records that will stand for generations to come.

Fleming has already set batting, longevity and captaincy records for New Zealand; Smith, with 11 centuries in just 40 Tests, will no doubt set South African records in years to come. Both are left-handed top-order players who set the tone for the rest of the line-up, but where Smith has the likes of Jacques Kallis that he can rely on for runs, Fleming has no such middle-order guarantees.

While Smith's average and conversion rate are far more impressive, Fleming's influence over the past five years should not be under-estimated, particularly in one-day cricket where he has developed the knack of playing match-winning knocks.

But they are so different too. If Smith is a more reliable batsman, Fleming is undoubtedly a better captain at this juncture. There was talk that the ill-fated World XI would have been much better off by a having a proven leader, like Fleming, helming a fragile ship made from disparate parts. Nothing that Shaun Pollock or Smith did during a shambolic fortnight for world cricket would give cause to argue that theory.

Smith could not be held responsible for his side's collapse in Sydney, but inspiration was clearly in short supply. Not so at Nottinghamshire, where Fleming guided the county to its first championship in many moons. Where Fleming portrays an urbane air, Smith is more pugnacious. With his often-limited resources, Fleming can't let emotion cloud his judgement, whereas Smith is more likely to jump in boots and all.

If New Zealand are to trouble South Africa on home soil, a lot of it will come down to Fleming's ability to outsmart his counterpart. And if South Africa gets on top early, look for Smith to settle a score.

Let the games within a game begin.