Fleming suffers injury scare

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming had an injury scare on Monday, just a week before the start of the first test against a touring England side in Christchurch on March 13.

The incident happened while Fleming was facing new one-day international player Ian Butler in a State Championship match between the Kiwi captain's Wellington and Northern Districts.

According to Warren Frost -- a member of New Zealand Cricket's medical staff -- Fleming was hit on the elbow by a quick delivery from Butler and it then deflected onto his hip bone.

"He is bruised but not battered," Frost said. "He continued to bat and tried to take a run but appeared to lack power. He continued batting with a runner but was out soon afterwards."

Fleming made 28 and according to Frost he would not field if Wellington needed to on the second day of the match on Wednesday.

He would, however, bat in his team's second innings -- possibly with a runner, Frost added.

Frost said Fleming would probably be sore but was in no danger of missing the first test of a three-match series next week.

"The first 24-hours are the most crucial for these sort of injuries. If he keeps icing it he will be fine."

The Fleming scare came on the same day England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff complained of knee soreness and did not bowl in the second innings of the tour match in Queenstown against Otago.

England officials said on Tuesday they did not believe the knee problem was a major obstacle, but they would rest Flintoff for the three-day match against Canterbury starting on Thursday.

Marcus Trescothick would probably also sit out the Canterbury game after he admitted to feeling stale and suffering from a lack of concentration after playing throughout the long tour of India and the first three weeks in New Zealand.

Mail Cricket Editor