Fleming receives Kent call (28 October 1998)

28 October 1998

Fleming receives Kent call

By Geoffrey Dean

MATTHEW FLEMING was yesterday named to captain Kent next summer after a committee meeting recommended the 33-year-old former Green Jackets subaltern should succeed Steve Marsh.

Fleming arrives back from Bangladesh tomorrow with the rest of the England one-day party, having been informed of his appointment by Kent coach John Wright.

Fleming led the Army team in the mid-Eighties but his experience of captaincy at first-class level is restricted to a single game last summer against Oxford University.

A forthright character, Fleming has a colourful family history. The Fleming clan, with roots in Scotland, own about 40 per cent of the London-based merchant bank, Robert Fleming. His uncle was chairman and his great uncle, Ian, wrote the James Bond books.

Kent's disappointing season after they finished runners-up in three competitions in 1997 was the major factor in the decision to replace Marsh, who said he was "disappointed and hurt" at losing the job.

"I'm out of contract and I've got to sit down and think about things and decide if I want to stay with Kent," said Marsh.

All-rounder Neil Smith, 31, completed a notable family double last night with his appointment as Warwickshire's 14th post-war captain. His father, M J K, now the club chairman, held the office from 1957 to 1967 and also captained England in 25 of his 50 Tests.

The younger Smith has leapfrogged above Nick Knight, who continues as vice-captain, and Tim Munton, the former captain who missed the 1997 season through injury. Smith, who takes over from Brian Lara, led the side in one-day competitions in that summer when Warwickshire won the AXA League and reached the Natwest Trophy final.

Jack Birkenshaw, who coached Leicestershire to the County Championship and Benson and Hedges Cup final, has been recruited by England to oversee two pre-tour squad training sessions for this winter's Carlton and United One-Day International Series in Australia.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)