Fleming - in command Photo Reuters

This must have been what it was like when General Montgomery, soon to become Field Marshall Montgomery, fired up the troops before El Alamein.

Stephen Fleming, captain, no, make that commander of the CLEAR New Zealand Black Caps, produced the performance of a lifetime in his final press conference before the start of the National Bank Test series for the Jordan Rosebowl in Christchurch this morning.

This wasn't a "we're seeking the underdogs role", of ultra-defence mechanisms, of under-playing a side's chances - the normal domain of side's sizing each other up much like heavyweights perambulating around the boxing ring trading exploratory blows.

This was a "we're on the right side here and we're going to clean up a few misconceptions about the strength of our cause" presentation.

Here was a captain at ease with himself, his team and its place in the scheme of things.

It was confidence, but it wasn't over-confidence.

It was aggressive, but not overly-aggressive.

It was uncommon for a New Zealand sports captain in any sport, but it was long overdue.

It was honest.

And it demonstrated why Fleming is the most impressive captain on the New Zealand sports scene at the moment.

This was a captain with nothing to hide.

His side has happened upon a method of playing that is large on common sense, honed on experience and fed by a common desire to win some respect from quarters not usually known for dishing it up.

The Australians were won over by the side, and their admiration was more than grudging.

Now it is time the English felt the heat, and having been belittled for their achievements, even to the point of England captain Nasser Hussain claiming yesterday that his side should have won the 1999 series, New Zealand have clearly had enough.

Hussain might have been trying to lift the expectations of his own players, but the reality is that he has only poured an accelerant on the attitudes of the New Zealand players.

The test for Fleming now is to harness that fire, that desire, in the direction best achieved for victory, and in the heat of the battle that will be the key.

Fleming's stature as a skipper has developed immensely since he opted to take greater control of the side last summer.

It was an overdue move, but it was one reflected by the growing confidence of the side.

This is not a captain standing behind his troops and ordering them over the top.

This is not a guerilla assault common to so many New Zealand sporting successes where surprise has been the key element.

This is a planned assault on a batting, bowling and fielding front where a skipper feels he has the strength and experience to execute, and execution may be the key word to come out of this series, the orders for success.

Fleming's approach is exciting, positive and a harbinger of possibly one of the most refreshing Test series in New Zealand for some time.

And New Zealand sport could do with more of the same across the board.

© CricInfo