AP

Wellinton, Sep 12: Stephen Fleming was replaced by Daniel Vettori as New Zealand's Test cricket captain on Wednesday, simultaneously announcing his retirement from limited overs internationals.

All rounder Vettori will now captain the New Zealand Test, one-day and Twenty20 teams, ending Fleming's 10-year captaincy reign. "The selectors are looking to the future and have recommended that Daniel assume captaincy of the Test team as well as the one-day team," New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said from South Africa.

"Daniel has demonstrated real leadership during his time with the (New Zealand team) and through his occasional performances as one-day captain, has shown he is ready to take over captaincy...In all forms of the game," Vaughan said.

Fleming, who had previously been replaced by Vettori as captain of the new Zealand limited-overs team, immediately announced his intention to retire from one-day play. "I am fully committed to the (New Zealand team) and New Zealand cricket, but feel that the time is right for me to retire from the one-day game," Fleming said from England, where he is playing county cricket.

"While I would have wished to remain captain of the Test team, I can also understand why the selectors prefer to have a single captain for the Test, one-day and Twenty20 teams," he added. "I hold Daniel Vettori in high regard and will support him fully in his transition as Test captain."

Fleming, 34, has played 104 Tests for New Zealand since his debut against India in 1994, captaining the side to 28 wins and 25 draws in 80 Test matches since 1997. He played more limited-overs internationals as a captain than any other international player, guiding New Zealand to 98 wins in 218 games.

His limited overs career encompassed 280 matches, with 8,037 runs at an average of 32.4 - the highest tally of any New Zealand batsman. Fleming said he remained keen to tour South Africa with the New Zealand team later this year.

"I shall continue playing Tests as long as I have the desire and skills required to contribute," he said. "However, it is likely that the coming New Zealand summer will be my last home series."

Fleming's demotion is seen, in part, to be a consequence of recent changes among New Zealand's coaches and selectors. While John Bracewell remains head coach, New Zealand cricket recently appointed new batting and bowling coaches to the New Zealand team.

At the same time, Fleming's reported link to a breakaway cricket league in India is said to have angered some New Zealand officials.