Former CSK coach Stephen Fleming set to take England Test team job
Former CSK tactician Stephen Fleming is set to takeover as the new England Test team coach, according to a report from the Telegraph. Fleming became the frontrunner for the job following a week of interviews to determine the successor of Brendon McCullum.
Fleming will be working in tandem with his compatriot McCullum, who will continue as England’s white-ball coach. McCullum was sacked from his role earlier in the month, in the wake of Ben Stokes’ retirement and poor results in the Ashes and the series against New Zealand.
England’s next Test assignment is just three weeks away, with the start of the Test series against Pakistan. Currently, they don’t have a captain or head coach.
According to the report, the England and Wales cricket board is keen to give the job to Fleming. It is understood that the former New Zealand captain emerged as the frontrunner for England’s vacant Test coaching role, edging out a field that included English candidates Richard Dawson and Jonathan Trott, along with former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody.
Andy Flower had initially been viewed as the leading contender, but the former England coach withdrew from consideration, opting to continue with his franchise coaching commitments at Royal Challengers Bengaluru and London Spirit. Former Australia head coach Justin Langer also distanced himself from the process, revealing on Wednesday that he had not been approached by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The search for England’s next Test coach has been overseen by managing director Rob Key, who has worked alongside an executive recruitment firm to identify McCullum’s successor.
Fleming’s coaching credentials have largely been built through a hugely successful association with the Chennai Super Kings. Since calling time on his international career in 2008, the former New Zealand captain transformed CSK into one of the IPL’s most successful franchises during a lengthy spell as head coach.
His responsibilities extended beyond the IPL as well, with Fleming also overseeing the Super Kings’ teams in Major League Cricket, where he coached the Texas Super Kings, and in South Africa’s SA20 competition with the Joburg Super Kings.
The New Zealander parted ways with the Super Kings earlier this month, shortly after Brendon McCullum’s departure from the England setup, paving the way for him to be considered for the national role.
Fleming also has prior coaching experience in English domestic cricket, having spent two seasons with Southern Brave in The Hundred until 2024. During his playing career, he enjoyed a successful county stint with Nottinghamshire and also represented Yorkshire and Middlesex.
It remains uncertain whether Fleming will be in place before England begin their Test series against Pakistan. The ECB has indicated it is comfortable allowing assistant coach Marcus Trescothick to oversee the side on an interim basis if required, with the expectation that the permanent appointment could officially take charge ahead of the South Africa tour in December, England’s next assignment in the longest format.
The timing would still leave the incoming coach with a limited window to prepare the team for one of its biggest challenges. England are scheduled to play just 10 Tests before next summer’s Ashes on home soil, where reclaiming the urn will be the primary objective.
England have not beaten Australia in an Ashes series since 2015, meaning ending that decade-long drought is likely to be the first major test awaiting Fleming should he be confirmed in the role.
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