Fleming tossing and turning

After having learnt the lesson from the last meeting against the Aussies, Fleming this time was cautious and was honest enough to confess, ‘‘I am pretty nervous about the toss.’’ Declining to comment on whether he would like to bat or bowl first he gave a non-committal comment on the pitch: ‘‘Looks pretty flat, with grass on it.’’ The paradox was hard to miss. The label ‘flat green-top’ was something one wasn’t used to and the contradiction too didn’t go unnoticed.

After Fleming, it was John Buchanan’s turn to face the media. As was expected from a coach whose team had registered two convincing victories, Buchanan was confidence personified. Though he did in the passing mention that tomorrow’s game was a crucial but he seemed to be more focused on the bigger picture. His views about the need for healthier competition in international cricket and the importance of Sachin Tendulkar when India tour Australia next month meant he was sure to enjoy a peaceful night before the game against New Zealand.

As for the injury list, Paul Hitchcock gets added from the New Zealand side while the Australians continue to miss Michael Kasprowicz. The rest are all fit to battle it out. Chris Cairns, who sat out in Faridabad, is now bowling and raring to go. Moreover, the all-rounder will no less be enthused to play on a ground, where he last smashed a century and scalped a three-wicket haul.

Though the last game was a no-contest but the Kiwis like their neighbour are known to fight the odds. It’s a culture that cuts them by a creek and when pitted against each other, the game is at its best. But as the Pune crowd gears up for the expected thriller, so do the clouds that loom large.