Fleming back and going strong
Valkerie Mangall - 9 January 2001

ADELAIDE, Jan 10 AAP - Swing bowler Damien Fleming firmly stated his comeback from a string of injuries, claiming three wickets for Australia A against the West Indies in a tour match here yesterday.

Fleming said he had done plenty of fitness work while recovering from recent injuries and would be strong for the remainder of the season as a result - putting him in a good position to be called back into senior Australian ranks.

"I was really glad to get picked in these games," Fleming said.

"For me to get a couple of games under my belt here, you never know what can happen after that ... I'm really pleased that I have been patient and worked really hard and kept my strength up.

"My fitness is good and it's a big end of the year really for me, whether I just play the full year for Victoria - we're really in a good position for the Shield final - and then if I'm lucky enough to get a game for Australia, there's a lot of cricket left for the Aussies this year too.

"I feel in a really good position at the moment ... I reckon I'll be going pretty strong for the rest of the summer now."

Fleming took 3-18 from 10 overs as the West Indies beat Australia A by four wickets in a day-night fixture at Adelaide Oval.

The Windies bowled Australia A out for 145 in 42.3 overs and reached 6-146 with 8.1 overs to spare.

The win was an ideal preparation for the Windies before their one-day international series opener against Australia in Melbourne on Thursday. Meanwhile, Australia A meets Zimbabwe in a day-night match in Brisbane on Friday.

Fleming's three-wicket haul follows his comeback match last week in which he took three wickets for Victoria in a one-dayer against Western Australia after missing more than a month with a bulging disc in his neck.

That injury came after he battled a knee complaint during the winter and then broke a finger early in the season.

© 2001 AAP


Teams Australia, West Indies.
Players/Umpires Damien Fleming.
Tournaments Carlton Series