| When some cricketers end their careers, cricket fans | | | | rate of 55 illustrates that his swing bowling was |
| wonder what might have been. Fast bowlers, in | | | | typically effective, particularly in support of Glenn |
| particular, tend to suffer abbreviated careers | | | | McGrath and Jason Gillespie. |
| because of injury. Aussie fast bowler, Damien | | | | Fleming also managed three five-wicket hauls, with a |
| Fleming, was a prime example. When he was fit, he | | | | best of 5/30 against India. Curiously, Fleming |
| demonstrated immense talent with the ball and even | | | | produced all of his five-wicket hauls in |
| capability with the bat. | | | | Australia-against India, England and Pakistan. He even |
| Born in Perth, Western Australia on April 24, 1970, | | | | had modest success with the bat, managing two 50s |
| Damien made his First Class debut as a 19 year old in | | | | in Tests and a batting average of 19.06. The Aussie |
| the 1989/1990 season. The Australian selectors | | | | swing bowler's top score of 71* came in a match |
| recognized his talent soon enough-giving him a Test | | | | against England in 1998. |
| debut against Pakistan at Rawalpindi in 1994. The | | | | On the one-day international scene, Fleming was very |
| Western Australia pace bowler took seven wickets | | | | potent-often taking the new ball and picking up early |
| on debut-including a hat-trick (separated by an over) | | | | wickets for Australia. From 88 ODIs, Fleming took |
| of top-order wickets-Aamer Malik, Inzamam Ul Haq | | | | 134 wickets at an average of 25.38. His economy |
| and Saleem Malik. | | | | rate of 4.41 underscored his ability to contain |
| That Fleming only played 20 Tests was purely | | | | batsmen. Fleming only went wicket-less in ODIs on 21 |
| because of injuries that plagued him during his career. | | | | occasions. On several of those occasions, his |
| After his spectacular debut, injury prevented him | | | | economy rate was usually below 4.50. The highlight |
| from playing the following Test- a pattern that | | | | of the injury-plagued bowler's career was when he |
| defined his career and made him an involuntary fringe | | | | played all nine of Australia's matches at the 1999 |
| player for Australia. In his 20 Test matches, Fleming | | | | World Cup, helping Australia to win their first World |
| claimed 75 wickets at an average of 25.89. His strike | | | | Cup in 12 years. |