New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming has joined Nottinghamshire as captain for the 2005 season. Notts have just been promoted to the top division of the Championship.
Director of cricket, Mick Newell, said: "It is a real coup for Nottinghamshire to sign the world's leading captain and one of the best batsmen."
There was a lot of interest in Fleming's signature from the counties with Surrey and Somerset thought to have been among the favourites.
The 31-year-old is the longest serving captain in international cricket, having taken charge at the age of 23.
 |  I have harboured an ambition to captain a leading English county team |
He has scored more than 11,700 runs in Tests and one-day internationals since making his debut in 1994. Newell added: "We have built a squad which can be one of the most competitive teams in the country next season.
"Stephen will bring fresh ideas and challenges to our players and will demand international level standards of performance which will help bring out the very best in both our young players and those aspiring for international honours."
Fleming, who has previously played for Middlesex and Yorkshire, joins Australian batsman David Hussey to fill the quota of two overseas players.
He said: "I enjoyed my previous experience of county cricket and have harboured an ambition to captain a leading English county team.
"The club has developed strong links with New Zealand cricket with Sir Richard Hadlee, Chris Cairns, Daniel Vettori and Nathan Astle having all previously played for them."
It means Jason Gallian will no longer captain Notts but he has signed a new deal to keep him at Trent Bridge until 2008.
"As he is arguably the best captain in world cricket, I offered to step down.
"I have a good few years left and I am sure that I will learn something playing alongside a player of his capability," Gallian said.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 