Fleming has qualities needed at Lord's

Stephen Fleming, Middlesex's new left-handed overseas batsman, believes his experience of captaining a struggling New Zealand team will stand him in good stead for his time at Lord's.

Fleming, the New Zealand captain, has a single-minded determination to stick it out when things are going against him - and genuine fighting qualities.

Fleming said: "New Zealand have lost a few experienced players like Chris Cairns, Dion Nash and Daniel Vettori and we are a young side with limited experience. We are a struggling team because we are short of resources.

"Middlesex are in the same position. They're in transition with younger players trying to break through and I'll be doing all I can to help them get back into the top division."

Middlesex's new coach, John Emburey, insists he has the ideal man. "He's absolutely perfect for us," said Emburey. "He's played an awful lot of Tests at a comparatively young age, he's strong-minded and undemonstrative and will hold the middle-order together. He'll be a great acquisition to help the younger players."

No one is expecting Middlesex to win trophies so the pressure is off, or at least it should be. Fleming admits he will have a tough task in following Justin Langer, who averaged 61 in his three seasons in the championship.