Left hand batsman
Canterbury
BORN: 1st April 1973
That was a long time ago now, and two years later, he is still captain of the national team. Fleming is an elegant strokemaker, with a large array of flowing shots. The classic left-hander had to wait a long time for his maiden test hundred, but he now has two, and his highest test score is a mammoth 174 not out against Sri Lanka.
Fleming has the highest success rate than any of his captaincy predessors, and no doubt he hopes to improve on this record.
He is a reliable slip fielder, and also an energetic infielder.
Fleming has made his way through the age-groups including NZ age-group sides, NZ Youth XI (which he captained), Canterbury's top side, and eventually New Zealand. He was dubbed the next Martin Crowe but this didn't faze him - scoring 92 on his test debut.
Though a drug incident in South Africa was a black mark against him, it was to his credit that he was one of only three players who owned up and accepted punishment.
He has matured over the years, and will be a prominent member of New Zealand's cricketing future.