New Zealand cricket great Stephen Fleming has shared a hilarious story of being sledged by Australian cult hero Greg Matthews – and it comes with a plot twist.
Fleming was speaking on Spark Sport’s commentary during the second Test between the Black Caps and South Africa, as the Proteas went in for the kill in Christchurch on day four.
As South African fielders chirped away at NZ batsmen Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell, Mark Richardson asked Fleming whether men around the bat ever got into his head.
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“One of the biggest sprays I ever got was from Australian Greg Matthews,” the former Test captain said.
“And it went on for a long time. The horrible thing was, it was when he was batting.
“And I was fielding and he was relentless. Comparing me to Jeremy Coney and all the greats and how disgraceful I was. It was a very humbling experience.”
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The match in question was a 1997 tour game in Newcastle between NZ and New South Wales.
A powerful NSW line-up crushed the Kiwis as ‘Mo’ Matthews – then a 37-year-old ex-international – twisted the knife into a fresh-faced, 24-year-old Fleming.
“Did your teammates want to get him out or were they quite happy for it to continue?” Richardson inquired.
“Well we were trying but he actually batted well,” Fleming said.
“He got 80-odd so it was a long afternoon. Daniel Vettori, part of the (spinners) brotherhood as he (Matthews) called it, was toiling away but unfortunately we couldn’t remove him.”
“What about when you came out to bat? Did it continue?” Richardson asked.
“Not for long because he bowled me a full toss and I hit it straight to Michael Slater I think for nought,” Fleming confessed.
“So all in all it was a pretty average day.”
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