We don’t want to be underdogs: Fleming
Posted on Oct 19, 2006 at 23:01
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Tags: cricket, champions trophy, new zealand
Mumbai: Tired of the dark-horses tag, New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming on Thursday said his side was keen to win the Champions Trophy and prove that they were capable of being good consistently.
"The biggest worry for us is we have not been consistent in big tournaments. We are looking to win not only the next two games (in the league phase) but to win them all," said Fleming on the eve of their crunch Group B clash against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on Friday.
"We are good enough to win the competition. We don't want to be the perennial dark horses in every competition. We want to start performing to our ability," said the left-handed batsman who starred with the bat in his team's shock win over South Africa on Monday.
The New Zealand camp has been hit by injury and illness, with a big question mark hanging on three players -- speedsters Shane Bond and Mark Gillespie and all rounder Scott Styris.
While Bond (stiff back) and Styris (hamstring twinge) missed the tie against South Africa, Gillespie has been sick over the last three days and is down with 'Delhi belly', Fleming said.
"Shane is going to have a bowl in the nets with a view to measuring his fitness and availability for the match. We are measuring up our long term and short-term goals over Shane. Styris is in the same position. He will be training with a view to see his fitness.
"Mark Gillespie is down with Delhi belly and he's been sick for the last three days. It's his first trip to the sub continent," the skipper said.
Fleming said Friday's contest would throw up a tussle between the spinners from either team.
"We stack up very well in the spin department and it's going to be an even contest. Daniel (Vettori) and Jeetan (Patel) have been very impressive in conducive conditions. Daniel is a world class bowler and his guile with the ball is going to be crucial to us while Jeetan Patel is developing into a very effective off spinner because of the pace (at which) he bowls. We want to use him against the Sri Lankan left-handers. The other night he bowled extremely well on that pitch," Fleming said.
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