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This is an archive article published on August 15, 2005

Fleming on verge of 6,000-run landmark

Captain Stephen Fleming could become the first New Zealander to reach 6,000 Test runs during the second and final Test against Zimbabwe star...

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Captain Stephen Fleming could become the first New Zealander to reach 6,000 Test runs during the second and final Test against Zimbabwe starting on Monday.

Fleming goes into the match with 5,985 runs from his 95 Tests and will fancy his chances of reaching the milestone against suffering Zimbabwe. He said on Sunday: “It would be good do it, but I’m more orientated towards team statistics than individual achievements.”

In the first Test in Harare, New Zealand achieved their biggest victory, by an innings and 294 runs, and inflicted Zimbabwe’s worst defeat.

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But Fleming said: “It will be tougher because perhaps we’re a bit more comfortable now. That’s dangerous, we’ve got to guard against complacency.” New Zealand have named an unchanged side.

Zimbabwe spent the three unused days of the first Test training hard and having a “huge chat”. “We can’t hide the fact that we didn’t bat well, we all need to take a look in the mirror,” said captain Tatenda Taibu.

Part of the problem, Taibu felt, was that Zimbabwe were last in international action against South Africa in March. “We’re just getting back and as much as I would like to give the guys stick, we have to take that into account,” he said.

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