Stephen Fleming

CSK lost their bearings when it mattered the most

After reducing Mumbai Indians to 16 for 3 inside the first four overs of Sunday's final, and the having restricted them to 142 for 9, it was expected that the mighty Chennai Super Kings were just a step behind adding another trophy to their already inflated cabinet. But what transpired after that was nothing short of unusual. Their batsmen, somehow, looked jittery against Mumbai's attack as they went down meekly.

As mentioned by their coach Stephen Fleming at the pre-match conference, what happened off the pitch recently had dented their morale and confidence. The effect of which was so large that even the most consistent team like CSK buckled under pressure. Having won two out of four finals previously, CSK knew what it takes to play in big matches and how to conjure up victories. But the events followed the spot-fixing scandal not only dented their confidence, it also affected their morale.

But despite the loss in the final, no one can deny that CSK was still the most consistent team of IPL 6. They topped the league with 22 points from 16 matches and cantered their way to the final with a thumping win over Mumbai in the first Qualifier. With the highest run-getter in Mike Hussey (733 runs) and top wicket-taker in Dwayne Bravo (32 wickets) in their side, Chennai were expected to go all the way.

They are the only IPL franchise to have a settled squad over six seasons, with players who 

Events outside the ground were disrupting: Fleming

Kolkata: Observing that "events outside the ground were disrupting", Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming Sunday blamed its batters for poor shot selection after they were "outplayed" by the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League final at the Eden Gardens here. "It has been a difficult week for us. Events outside the ground were disrupting. We are not used to such things. We are very calculated side and this...  

Pressure mounts on Srinivasan to quit; no threat to Sunday's match

Mumbai/Kolkata: BCCI President N Srinivasan's rivals were on Saturday said to be plotting a strategy to seek his ouster even as he remained defiant rejecting demands for his resignation in the wake of the arrest of his son-in-law and CSK team owner Gurunath Meiyappan on betting charges. However, doubts over Sunday's IPL final involving CSK and Mumbai Indians were cleared with IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla saying that the match will...  

CSK players, staff distressed over IPL scandal: coach Fleming

Kolkata: Apologising on behalf of MS Dhoni, who could not attend the pre-match conference, Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming said on Saturday that the team players and support staff are distressed about the news related to the franchise. Fleming said that everyone in the team management was proud to have represented CSK in the past six seasons and that none of their players had any knowledge of betting or...  

Honest policy behind Chennai's success in IPL, says coach Fleming

New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming has attributed his side's stupendous success in IPL to "loyalty in team selection and conservative approach" that has helped the 'Men in Yellow' make it to the fifth final in six editions of the cash-rich league. "We have shown consistency and loyalty in team selections. Moreover, the composition of our side and the kind of mix we have. The combination of selection...  

Chennai have played smart cricket this season, says Fleming

New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming Monday attributed the team's success in the ongoing edition of the IPL to playing "smart cricket" and called skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni the best finisher in international cricket at the moment. "We have been quite smart this edition of the IPL. We came up with some good performances. Some of the things which we have done this year were to learn from...  

Fleming, Sharma want to focus on playing good cricket

New Delhi: Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma and Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming want their respective sides to focus on playing good cricket and not get distracted by the spot-fixing scandal that has rocked the IPL ahead of the first qualifier here Tuesday. "We don't want to think too much about it. Everybody here is a professional cricketer and we have got more important job at hand than to...  

We will look to get Bangalore's top order early: Fleming

Bangalore: Aware from the fact that Royal Challengers Bangalore have a top-order that can destroy any attack on a given day, Chennai Super Kings are aiming to get their top three batsmen early when they lock horns in an IPL match on Saturday. "We have our work cut out. If it is a high-scoring game, and if any of their top three get away. It`s always been a case in...  

Spot-fixing scandal adds sinister approach in game: Fleming

Bangalore: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Flemings today said that the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the IPL could lead to strange happenings on the field being suspected of wrongdoing and added a "sinister" approach to the game. He said the scandal, which allegedly involved India pacer S Sreesanth and his two Rajasthan Royals team-mates, has sullied the game and his players were saddened by the incident. "I have not really...  

Playing in Delhi and not in Chennai is disadvantage: Fleming

Chennai: With the play-offs of the Indian Premier League shifted out of the city's MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming says it will be a "disadvantage" playing away from home. "In Kolkata, we have done pretty well. Probably playing in Delhi and not in Chennai is disadvantage to us but you got to think positively about such things," Fleming said. Asked if the spinners would have crucial...  

It was an extraordinary innings by Watson: Stephen Fleming

Jaipur: Terming Shane Watson's 70-run knock off just 34 balls as "extraordinary", Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming said that the Aussie all-rounder changed the complexion of the game in just four to five overs. Chasing 142 for a win, Rajasthan lost three wickets inside five overs before Watson played a smashing knock to help Rajasthan Royals register a dramatic five-wicket victory over table-toppers Chennai Super Kings with 17 balls...  

Injured Saha may give way to Vijay: Fleming

Mumbai: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming today said wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha is carrying injuries and his fitness will be assessed before the Pepsi Indian Premier League game against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday. "He is carrying a little bit of an injury, so whether (Murali) Vijay comes back in would depend on Saha`s fitness now," he said at the pre-match media conference. Fleming, who did...  

CSK coach Fleming lauds Mike Hussey's contribution

Chennai: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming on Sunday praised his senior batsman Michael Hussey for his contribution to the team, describing the Australian as the pivot of CSK's batting in the IPL. "It was great innings, isn't it? He has been consistent though there was some criticism in the manner in which he scored runs. The way he has played against different teams has been quite dynamic. I cannot...  

We want to improve overall bowling: Stephen Fleming

Chennai: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming Wednesday said that he was not unduly worried by his side's death bowling issues but would look to improve the overall bowling when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in their IPL match here Thursday. "I am not worried about death bowling. There is always pressure in 20-20 cricket. There are very good hitters in the game now. Look at Villiers and Steve Smith...  

Stephen Fleming blames CSK batsmen for Mumbai defeat

Chennai: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming has blamed the batsmen for his team's nine-run defeat against Mumbai Indians in their IPL opener and said the way some of them got out was "not acceptable". "The pitch was fine. The score was achievable playing in the second innings and at half time we were pretty comfortable. I must say the batting was below standards, considering the [batsmen's] experience," said Fleming...  

Mike Hussey's international retirement helps us: Fleming

Chennai: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming feels Michael Hussey's retirement from international cricket will work in his team's favour in the ongoing 6th Indian Premier League, as the batsman would be available for the entire season. "It helps and since Michael and (Murali) Vijay had great partnerships. There have been ups and down in 20-20 cricket but it has been very good for us," Fleming told reporters Friday, the...  

Fleming hints CSK may not go for foreign players in IPL auction

CSK coach Stephen Fleming believes that if the franchise looks for new overseas players, it will lose fan base. ...  

Stephen Fleming not eyeing NZ coaching job

The Chennai Super Kings coach said he was not interested in taking over from current New Zealand coach John Wright. ...  

Bisla was a surprise package, says Fleming

The Chennai Super Kings coach admitted that the Kolkata batsman's blitz took them unawares. ...  

Badrinath, Hussey set it up for Dhoni: Fleming

The 94-run third-wicket stand between S Badrinath (47) and Michael Hussey (49) helped Chennai recover after they were precariously placed at 1 for 2 in 1.2 overs. ...