Stephen Fleming battles for full fitness (23 February 1999)

23 February 1999

Stephen Fleming battles for full fitness

The Christchurch Press

Injured New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming remains uncertain when he will return to the first-class playing arena.

Fleming is still recovering from the adductor tendon operation he had a month ago and is working on rehabilitation.

"I'm really a day-to-day proposition at the moment. I'm doing the strengthening exercises and it's coming on, but not well enough to play yet.

"I can't put an exact date on when it will be right, so I can't commit to anything yet. Hopefully when I can string a few good days together I'll go from there."

When Fleming is fit again he is likely to play a Shell Trophy match for Canterbury, which has two home games before the second test against South Africa, from March 11-15, at Jade Stadium.

National selection panel convener Ross Dykes has hinted that Fleming may not be considered until the third test in Wellington, starting on March 18.

"I'll probably go down to Canterbury practice later this week and see how things are going," said Fleming.

He said he was still having discomfort turning and running.

Meanwhile, the director of the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute, Keith McAuliffe, is confident the test at Eden Park can proceed on Saturday, despite problems with the pitch.

There have been calls to move the test because of the lack of cover in key areas on the pitch.

But McAuliffe stressed that to proceed would "not be an absolute disaster" and the test strip should be prepared as if it was a bare pitch. He said the ground staff will have to be careful not to let it dry out too early.

Grass on the pitch has been killed by a fungal disease. "It will play on the slower side and won't offer any seam to the quick bowlers," McAuliffe said.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)