Mystery illness floors Fleming

Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, will miss the opening match of the Australia tour against New South Wales at the SCG tomorrow because of a mystery illness.

Fleming, who has been sick for the past few days, is expected to remain in New Zealand until Friday, when he will join the squad to prepare for the first Test against Australia at the Gabba on November 18.

John Bracewell, the coach, said blood tests had ruled out malaria and he was confident Fleming would play at Brisbane. "When you come back from Bangladesh or any Asian place you go through the alphabetical list of diseases and we have got down as far as malaria," he said after the squad arrived in Sydney.

An inflamed shoulder means Daniel Vettori, who felt sore in the final one-day match against Bangladesh on Sunday, will also be rested from the tour game. Bracewell said Vettori was able to bowl without discomfort, but throwing was more difficult. "There is no doubt that Daniel will be available for the first Test," Bracewell said.

In the absence of both Fleming and Vettori, Scott Styris was chosen to lead the side ahead of Jacob Oram. Craig McMillan, originally left out of the touring party, has already joined the squad as cover for the ailing Fleming.

The illness is a setback for Fleming, who said he believes Ricky Ponting's side are tougher opponents and "much smarter" than the team captained by Steve Waugh, which he faced in the drawn series in 2001-02. Fleming was also surprised by the amount of homework Australia completed for the series-winning tour of India.

"I was a little bit alarmed at how well they had planned for it," Fleming told AFP. "That's not always been one of Australia's traits. Because they have been so successful, they can usually get through any situation by their natural ability. But to see an Australian side that's thoroughly planned, and has been planning for some time, is a little bit alarming because it may take the side to a new level. John Buchanan is always pushing the boundaries but that was an interesting sign."

New Zealand team for the NSW game Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris (capt), Nathan Astle, Jacob Oram, James Franklin, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Paul Wiseman, Ian Butler, Chris Martin.