Bigger beds for lanky Kiwis

Published November 9, 2003

NEW DELHI, Nov 8: New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming has been complaining about the pitches and playing conditions in India, but there’s one thing he can’t crib about.

Bigger beds have been ordered for him and his lanky colleagues at the hotel hosting them in the northeastern city of Gauhati ahead of their one-day match with Australia on Sunday, The Hindustan Times newspaper reported Saturday.

“There was no request to do this,” Arindam Bhaumik, the general manager at the Landmark Hotel was quoted as saying. “We saw them on TV, read about their heights and realized our beds were too short.”

The Landmark flew in 7.5-foot- (2.3-meter) long beds from Calcutta 48 hours before the New Zealand team checked in on Friday, the newspaper said. The hotel’s normal beds are 6.5 feet (2 meters) long.

Otherwise, at least five New Zealanders, including Fleming, would have their legs sticking out as they sleep.

The Kiwis flew in from the eastern city of Cuttack, where they defeated host India by four wickets to stay in the hunt for a place in the tri-series final. The Australians, who are already assured of a place in the Nov. 18 final, have been practicing in New Delhi for three days and were set to arrive Saturday.

Fleming has complained about the quality of pitches and the match schedules.—APP/AP