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Fleming eyes number one spot
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said on Friday becoming the world's best one-day side was the long-term goal for his team.
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said on Friday becoming the world's best one-day side was the long-term goal for his team.
Opening batsman Fleming, speaking ahead of Saturday's NatWest Series one-day final against the West Indies at Lord's, told reporters at the ground: "We are in good form as a team, we have been for some time.
"But to get to the next step is the big one," said Fleming ahead of September's ICC Champions Trophy event - the mini World Cup New Zealand won four years ago - in England.
The Black Caps have won 13 of their last 15 one-day internationals but Fleming said they still had to improve to dethrone world champions Australia at the top of the standings.
"We are playing well now but we have to find a little bit more from the team to get to that number one spot," added Fleming whose team will be fractionally behind second-placed South Africa in the official ICC one-day table if they win their first Lord's one-dayer appearance on Saturday.
"Even from our own admission we've still got yards to gain on Australia. While we'd be happy to win this tournament our eyes are firmly fixed on the number one spot.
"That's the driving force," explained Fleming whose side face Australia in the Champions Trophy at The Oval on September 16.
He also praised the "understanding and intelligence" of coach John Bracewell, in charge since December.
The former New Zealand off-spinner was previously coach of Gloucestershire and led the English county to six one-day trophies in as many years.
But Fleming insisted one-day success could never fully compensate for New Zealand's 3-0 Test whitewashing by England earlier on the tour.
"It makes up a little bit but I'm pretty much Test-orientated as a captain. That hurt a lot to lose 3-0."
New Zealand booked their place in the traingular event final with convincing wins against the West Indies (five wickets) and England (six wickets) last weekend.
Their final group match, against the West Indies at the Rose Bowl on Thursday, was washed out without a ball being bowled and Fleming said the week's break had done the team good.
"After the double header it's a help. You are pretty tired physically after that weekend so it's given us a good chance to build-up and guys a chance to get over injury worries."
All the completed matches in the triangular tournament have been won by the team batting second and on Tuesday the West Indies knocked hosts England out of the event with a seven-wicket win at Lord's despite being set 286 to win.
Saturday's match will be played on the same pitch and Fleming said: "It's a good move. We've seen throughout this competition that fresh pitches have given a big advantage to teams batting second."
However, he added he was still inclined to field first. "We'd probably like to get them to set a score. They seem to be more vulnerable setting a score rather than chasing it."
New Zealand tour manager Lindsay Crocker said they had a fully-fit squad of 14 to choose from and that all-rounder Andre Adams, who had been brought in as cover, had been released back to Lancashire League side Colne.
But Crocker added star all-rounder Chris Cairns, not selected for the Black Caps' last two matches because of an ankle injury, had not bowled Friday as a "precaution".
However Fleming, said of pace bowler Cairns, who took three for 29 against the West Indies in Cardiff: "We are pretty confident he would play a part with both bat and ball."
