Fleming aims to go with bang

Stephen Fleming can afford a smile at a press conference at McLean Park © Getty Images

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Stephen Fleming has set his sights on a farewell century to help New Zealand claim a series victory over England as he prepares for the final Test of his illustrious career.

The 34-year-old former Black Caps captain will play his 111th and last Test at McLean Park, which starts on Saturday, and is determined to make an impact.

With the series balanced at 1-1, Fleming would like his final appearance to be remembered for more than just an extended farewell and is eager to have an influence one last time on a famous New Zealand victory.

Conducting a press conference to mark the end of a Test career which has included a record 171 catches for New Zealand, 7,047 runs and nine centuries, Fleming revealed how he had always tried to improve and that he intends to enter his final Test with the same objective.

“Certainly during my time I have given everything and tried to be as good as I can be,” he said. “I think I’m an achiever rather than a good or great player, I’ve been able to achieve through longevity.

“There are aspects of my play that I’ll always look back on and think what if I’d been better at this or more skilled at that?

“The whole time I’ve tried to get better and there’s nothing different in this last Test. I’d love to finish with a hundred or I’d love to finish with a substantial score that helps us win the series.”

Fleming revealed how he set himself two goals at the start of his final series - to pass 7,000 Test runs, which he did during the previous Test at Wellington, and score another century to take his tally to 10.

Fleming hopes to hit a century and help New Zealand win in his final Test © Getty Images

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If he does achieve his second aim he is also likely to finish with a career average over 40 - widely regarded as the starting point for a good Test player - but Fleming insists his desire to help the team is greater than any statistics.

“What is important is that if I’d have averaged 45 the team might have won more games,” he added. “It’s not about me getting a badge of honour with 40 on my chest to wear for the rest of my life.

“But if I can get it above 40 it means I’ll have scored another hundred and we’ve got a score that enables us to put pressure on England.”

He is also trying to put all emotion to one side as he prepares to play his final international match - he has signed to play in the Indian Premier League for the next three years - and will instead attempt to approach it like any other game.

“I’m not really an emotional bloke,” he added. “There will be a lump in my throat when I walk off for the last time but just for the reasons that there should be.

“People have talked to me about the last game, the last innings and what I’ve tried to do in this series is be very deadpan about it and treat it for what it is. I’m going to try and do that for this last game.

“The emotions will creep in probably from people around me with comments and that may start to creep in towards the end of the Test, but what I’m trying to do is be very statistically motivated during this series.

“I’m not very good at following the goals I’ve set but I’ve tried to get into them. That is the focus to try and get away from the emotional side of Test cricket and the other thing is we’re in a hell of a good battle with an England side at 1-1.

“Being able to play this type of cricket in this type of competition has helped - it’s a good series to finish with.”