SFLEMING_PROMISING_TURNER_03APR94

Some Areas for Fleming to look at: by Glenn Turner [Abridged version]

From: Sunday Star-Times, April 3rd, 1994.

Fleming has a good chance of developing into a very proficient player for New Zealand. He has natural flair, ability to strike the ball cleanly with good timing and unruffled ease.

However he does have a number of areas requiring improvement. Some will come with greater experience, others with hard work in the nets refining techniques. As I see it he needs to:

* Learn how to play a long innings. * Tighten up his defences without compromising his aggressive approach. * Improve the angle of his front foot plant when driving a ball of full length just outside the off stump. * Decide on a more consistent way to play the bouncer, both in terms of taking evasive action or choosing to hook.

If a batsman's hoping for ongoing success it's vital to develop an umcompromising desire to maintain one's wicket. In recent interviews, Fleming has stated a wish to bat at #5 "when the ball is older and the bowlers are showing signs of wear." All very nice and comfortable. I believe he should be aiming to develop his technique to cope with the increased skill needed to overcome a frisky new ball bowler on a green career when the body and soul are less able.

During his 92 in the test against India he showed considerable skill with some strokes but was apt to hit across the ball on the line of the stumps or even outside off stump. Notwithstanding the ability of some players to hit length rather than line, I still feel uneasy about the success rate using that method. Fleming will find that missing the ball and taking it on the pad is unlikely to convince many English umpires that they shouldn't give him out.

Fleming is very loose in defence to a ball outside off stump and will need to work on what to play and what to leave. Knowing where one's off stump is is vital to survival on sporty pitches or against top bowling. I'm not saying Fleming is devoid of off side strokes, far from it. His innings since the test match are evidence of this. However it is an area of his game requiring careful attention. His front foot has a noticeable splay when attacking a ball pitched up on or just outside off stump. This results in an incorrect transfer of weight to the onside, causing the ball to be dragged straighter rather than hit through mid-off or extra cover. It can also result in slips or gully coming into play due to a slight closing of the face of the bat.

So far Fleming has had limited exposure to fast short pitched bowling. He still appears to be in the process of resolving which options best suit him - to duck, to weave or sway, to stand tall and play it down, or to hook.

It will be interesting to follow his progress and watch how his technique and attitude determine the course of his career.