CHRISTCHURCH - Stephen Fleming, after effectively opening the batting for New Zealand in the past five one-day internationals, seems destined to fill the role in an official capacity against Australia today.
The New Zealand captain has declared his interest in moving up the order as a long-term career move, and - while adopting the neither-confirm-nor-deny policy after practice yesterday - appears likely to lead from the front when his team attempt to salvage the series against Australia tonight.
Fleming has opened the batting for New Zealand before, although the experience was short-lived, but given Craig Spearman's efforts in the past five ODIs, he has still seen a lot of the new ball.
Spearman, dropped on Thursday to make way for Mathew Sinclair, hasn't managed to make it past the fourth over in the past five matches, and on three occasions was back in the pavilion before the completion of the first six deliveries.
It could be that Fleming will be left at No.3 and test sensation Mathew Sinclair will come in to partner Nathan Astle at Jade Stadium today, but the way the Kiwi skipper was talking yesterday New Zealand seem to be leaning towards the right and left-hand opening combination.
"It's something I've wanted to do for a while," Fleming said of a suggested promotion. "If it doesn't happen in this match it's definitely something to look at down the track.
"Other middle-order batsmen like Mark Waugh, Brian Lara and Nathan Astle have made the change with a great deal of success, but in this case it's simply a matter of deciding what's best for the team - for me to open, or for Mathew."
The 26-year-old Cantabrian, who made 14 from 24 balls in Auckland and a stylish, albeit truncated, 24 off 15 balls in Dunedin, said he was feeling in good touch, but frustrated by a tendency to allow his emotions to get the better of him against Australia.
He departed to a loose shot at Auckland just after crashing three boundaries, and appeared to get carried away at Carisbrook as well, where - two balls after smashing Damien Fleming for six - he mindlessly lifted the same bowler to cover.
"I feel I'm hitting the ball pretty well," he said. "But I'm obviously getting too personal with what's going on in the middle - I just need to find a happy balance between playing aggressively and keeping my wicket intact.
"When you play against these guys you have to accept the challenge. It's a big battle to have and at times I've probably become a little too emotional with the situation. I need to be more clinical with my execution."
New Zealand will make at least one change to their line-up for today's fourth ODI, with Sinclair coming in for Spearman, but it could be that Robert Kennedy is also included in the playing XI, probably at the expense of Warren Wisneski.
Australian captain Steve Waugh, meanwhile, rates his chances of playing today as "better than even money" after being forced from the field with an ankle injury at Carisbrook on Wednesday night.
Another win would not only hand Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead in the National Bank Series, but it would also mark a world record 13th consecutive ODI without defeat.
Teams: New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Daniel Vettori, Scott Styris, Robert Kennedy, Warren Wisneski.
Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Shane Lee, Ian Harvey, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming.
