Middlesex set to sign Kiwi skipper

Middlesex are close to signing New Zealand skipper Steve Fleming as their overseas player in succession to captain Justin Langer.

Chief executive Vinny Codrington said today "I have spoken to Steve and he is very confident that he will sign before Christmas."

Fleming is on his way home to New Zealand following the tourists 2-0 defeat in South Africa and, although all-rounder Chris Cairns was the main target of the club, he was ruled out because of a knee problem.

Langer will be touring England this summer and will be replaced by another international class left-handed batsman in Fleming who led New Zealand's success in England in 1999. He is a mature, level-headed natural leader, very similar in temperament to Langer.

Middlesex chairman Phil Edmonds met Mark Ramprakash last night to reiterate that the England standby batsman won't be allowed to join another county unless a player of similar stature is brought in.

A possible swap was Surrey's Mark Butcher in exchange for Ramprakash but Butcher has signed another year's contract at The Oval. The Middlesex committee are unhappy about the way Ramprakash announced he was ready to go before his benefit year has ended.