|
|
| CricketZone.Com | IndiaExpress.Com ApunKaChoice.Com |
 |
|
NEWS ICC Champions Trophy 2006>New Zealand not glamorous enough: Fleming 10th Oct 2006 14.39 IST By Agencies According to captain Stephen Paul Fleming , the New Zealand cricket team has a less hectic calendar than others and one reason could be that the side is not considered "glamorous" enough to bring in the crowd and money. "I don't think we are a glamorous side, but we are certainly a good one," Fleming said in New Delhi on Monday.
Coach John Bracewell conceded that the fault probably lay in the side's lack of consistency abroad. "We have to be more consistent in winning outside New Zealand to be a more attractive proposition," Bracewell said, adding that the team had started making progress in that direction. "We have won two tri-series outside New Zealand over the last two years," he said, referring to the ones in Zimbabwe where they defeated India in the final, and in England , getting the better of the West Indies in the title clash. But Fleming said the scheduling had turned out to be a blessing in disguise for New Zealand Cricket and ensured that the players were fresh for the important season ahead, beginning with the Champions Trophy. "We have had ample rest and are raring to go to the battles ahead. Eight of the players, mostly batsmen, played county cricket, while the bowlers took it easy," the left-handed Fleming said. "We had a sort of re-union feeling among the players when they assembled after a long break," the coach said. His opinion was seconded by all-rounder Scott Bernard Styris , who also said the team fell short in the glamour stakes. "We cannot compare ourselves in this regard with Australia , India, Pakistan and England, and do not play in such frequent series," he said. The break has also ensured New Zealand a full-strength side for the mini World Cup. " Shane Bond is back to full fitness and that is a big plus for us. He has to be taken good care of because of the huge workload that his role demands of him," Fleming said. "Any bowler who can swing the ball at his pace will be a massive boost to any side," Bracewell said. Prolific batsman Nathan John Astle rued that they would be playing only two practice games ahead of the Champions Trophy. "We have two practice games before our first match against Pakistan, but we could have done with a few more matches to adapt to the heat and other conditions prevalent in India at this time of the year," the right-hander said. Also View In-Depth Coverage: ICC Champions Trophy 2006 Team Page: New Zealand Team Page: India | LIVE CRICKET COVERAGE NEWS ~ Gilchrist has no plans to retire after World Cup ~ Ganguly's new batting approach may cost him sixer record ~ India 'squash the Orange' in World Cup warm-up game ~ Symonds gets a new hairdo for World Cup ~ Dhoni readies himself for stand-up act at World Cup (more in NEWS) FACE-TO-FACE ~ 500-mark a possibility in World Cup: Hayden ~ Minnows add charm to World Cup: Dravid (more in FACE-TO-FACE) COLUMNS ~ Will Sri Lanka replicate 1996 World Cup success? (more in COLUMNS) OFF-THE-FIELD ~ Ganguly again the darling of corporate world ~ Ganguly roped in as brand ambassador of Puma (more in OFF-THE-FIELD) PLAYERS Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble (more PLAYERS) TEAMS India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies, Zimbabwe, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Kenya, Holland | 
|
|
|