Leadership is an exercise in constant learning, analysis and second-guessing the opposition and in tomorrow's fourth National Bank series match between New Zealand and Pakistan in Christchurch, home skipper Stephen Fleming faces a great test of how far his captaincy has come under this year's adversity.

It is increasingly clear that Fleming has assumed far greater control of his side and all that surrounds it this summer - a move that is to be welcomed for the longer term good of the New Zealand game.

By stepping in to fill the opening berth that has been such a pain for all involved in the game here, Fleming has graphically demonstrated the requirement to lead from the front.

He clearly doesn't like the role but has assessed his options and decided to set an example.

Increasingly his field placing, so often criticised by people who seem neither to think about or understand the fact that if bowlers can't put the ball where it is required not even Einstein would be able to cover all the angles to contain batsmen, has allowed New Zealand to extend its competitiveness beyond what it might expect from some of its poor batting performances.

Fleming has regained the knack of making things happen through fielding pressure, and that was the highlight of the second match win in Napier. It also worked for 40 overs in Wellington on Thursday before the Pakistan batsmen, and Yousuf Youhana especially, took control.

But another aspect of leadership is to set aside emotion while using plain cold facts to analyse circumstances.

With fast man Shoaib Akhtar out of the scene with his hamstring injury, New Zealand had a psychological advantage in Wellington. The ace in Pakistan's hand had been taken out of the game.

But instead of being proactive to increase New Zealand's surprise factor, Fleming played the loyalty card and lost.

He said it would have been criminal to have not shown faith in the bowlers who had done the job for him in Napier.

Wrong, what was criminal was to fail to realise every game is a different circumstance with different needs.

In Jacob Oram's absence New Zealand was a batsman short. To put the pressure on Pakistan, New Zealand needed to score runs. If it couldn't be done at the top of the order, and the law of probability overwhelmingly said it couldn't, New Zealand needed depth to its batting.

It didn't have it and paid the price.

Now, the selectors have done the job for him and left fast-medium bowler Chris Martin out of the side and retained the player who should have been used in Wellington, Andre Adams.

Australia has made an art form out of choosing players for the circumstances. Loyalty has not been a consideration. And by making the right calls, increasing the winning percentage, Steve Waugh commands loyalty for the strength of his judgment.

If there is an understanding in the team culture, as the modern expression has it, that horses will be selected for courses no player, whatever he has done for the cause can complain at being excluded for the team's benefit.

Winning, of course, makes all the difference.

Now, to take this series down to the wire as a competitive contest, Fleming has to lead the side to victory tomorrow, something that is not beyond possibility, even if Akhtar does play.

The greatest goal has to be runs in the top four. Jade Stadium has been a good one-day pitch latterly and if New Zealand can find a consistency through the order it must have every chance of success.

Pakistan would no doubt like to wrap up the series tomorrow. It could then begin its preparations for repeating the dose in the Test series starting in Auckland in about 12 days time.

Signs are that Jade Stadium will live up to its reputation of sharing with Carisbrook in Dunedin the honour of having the best batting pitches in the country.

What a fillip it would be if New Zealand's batsmen, who have become used to playing on a better quality of pitch in recent seasons, were able to put it together twice in the next two games and achieve a come from behind victory.

Pakistan may have to do without Akhtar again as he ended training today with a bandage around his troublesome thigh. Should the New Zealand batsmen get to put pressure on players like Abdur Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood the prospect should be for some well overdue high scoring contests.

© CricInfo