Stephen Fleming's New Zealand team scored more Test centuries in a summer than any other in history but the skipper wasn't among them and says the reason he is going to Middlesex for the winter is to learn how to score centuries.

In nine tests this summer, the New Zealanders won three Tests, lost three and drew three, and batsmen scored eight centuries, as well as two 99s and a 98.

Previously seven centuries had been scored in 1971/72 (five Tests), 1984/85 (10) and 1989/90 (five).

Fleming said he would not be going to Sharjah with the New Zealand side next weekend as the result of a decision the national selectors have made for him.

"I'm really excited about Middlesex.

"I'm going there to develop the skill to get hundreds. It is a skill I haven't got at the moment," he said.

Fleming said that while there were some dark moments as a captain during the Sri Lankan one-day series which New Zealand lost 1-4 he had been pleased to stay on as captain and see the side through to today's famous victory.

He was already New Zealand's most successful Test captain, but today he extended his list of wins to 13, two more than that achieved by Geoff Howarth.

The second Test at Jade Stadium saw him pass John R Reid as New Zealand's captain in most Tests. Reid led the side in 34 Tests, Fleming has now done the job in 36.

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