Damien William Fleming was born on April 24, 1970, in Bentley, Western Australia, and is a former Australian professional cricket player.
Between 1994 and 2001, he was a member of the Australian team as a bowler who could also bat.
He batted right-handed and bowled right-arm fast-medium.
Background
At the age of 19, his excellent success in school cricket helped him secure a spot in the Victoria Cricket Team, and he made his first-class debut against Western Australia.
He took 6 wickets for 37 runs in his debut match, causing many to consider him a rising star.
Fleming was also added to the Casey-South Melbourne Cricket Club’s 20th century side, which included greats including Bill Woodfull, Keith Miller, and Clarrie Grimmett.
He also played for Warwickshire County Cricket Club, but only for a year in 2002 due to his injury-prone body (which was also the reason for his international career being cut short).
Debut
He was named in the Australian squad for a series against South Africa in 1993, and he made his ODI debut on January 16, 1994.
He had known himself as a frequent member of Australia’s ODI team before making his Test debut.
He made his Test debut against Pakistan on October 5, 1994, and became just the third player in history to score a hat trick on his debut.
Rise to Glory
Fleming’s best season was 1990-2000, when he took 31 wickets in only six Tests against two subcontinental nations, India and Pakistan.
Shane Warne blundered at the slip cordon in December 1999, denying Fleming his second hat trick.
Despite his impressive Test figures, he was often referred to as a death-over expert in ODIs due to his excellent economy rate.
In the 1996 World Cup semifinal, West Indies just needed 6 runs in the final 5 balls to win. Fleming knocked out Courtney Walsh and led his team to the finals, restoring hope to Australian fans.
A similar scenario existed in the 1999 World Cup semi-final final, where South Africa struggled to score the necessary 1 run in his over.
It was the same game in which Allan Donald had run out due to Lance Klusener’s brain-fade.
Club Career
Warwickshire Cricket Club, an English County Cricket Club, signed him in 2002.
He also played List-A cricket for South Australia. He appeared in 153 List-A games and took 219 wickets at an average of 25.46.
Record in Numbers
Along with Maurice Allom and Peter Petherick, Fleming is the only player to score a hat trick on his debut.
His numbers are impressive, considering the fact that his career was cut short due to injuries. He took 75 wickets at an average of 25.89 in 20 Tests, including three five-wicket hauls.
He played 88 One-Day Internationals for Australia, claiming 134 wickets at a strike rate of 25.38.
Retirement
He was appointed the head coach of the Australian Cricket Academy after retiring from all forms of cricket in 2003, including List-A and first-class cricket.
He began focusing on his Bowlology Hypothesis during his time as head coach. He currently works as a commentator for ABC Radio Grandstand, Channel Ten, and Fox Sports in both domestic and international matches, and is known for his wicked humour and witty speeches.