The New Player-Coach - Stephen Fleming

by Veena Gabriel

Stephen Fleming,the graceful,determined,the most successful New Zealend captain, Thier best left handed batsman for last 15 years is planning to take over as player coach from Kepler Wessels for our very own Chennai Super Kings in the forth coming Twenty20 league starting in Dec'08.

fleming with daughter kelly V8tdQ 17022

He is a person who has not only made many records also been a great captain for his team. But his 9 test centuries does not exactly reflects on how great sportsman he really is. He had a benign tumour removed from his face in DEC 2005 while playing against Australia.

His IPL campaign was disappointing with 196 runs in 10 games and no fifty. hH was unable to attend the semi-finals or the finals. But such setbacks do not distract from the experience of a great player.

It is time for all round changes. VVS Laxman has been dropped from his captaincy for his Hyderabad Deccan Charges and replaced by Adam Gilchrist, now a man known for his criticism of Sachin. Bengal Royal Challengers have brought in Ray Jennings who replaces Martin Crowe. Even the players are opting for a change. Micheal Hussey will be playing for Chennai and not for Western Australia.

Fleming is entering in his new role in a very positive manner and is all praises for IPL for bringing different players and cultures together. He is also very candid about the better financial prospects in IPL and is confident that if such trend continues, more and more youngsters will take up sports especially cricket as their career and the monopoly of all best athletes are coloured will be changed.

If such great players with their positive attitude come in to coach the new players, obviously excellent results can be achieved.