England Cricket begins a new era with Stephen Fleming as Test coach

Fleming is one of the most highly regarded coaches in world cricket following an 18-year association with Chennai Super Kings, and a playing career that led him to be New Zealand's most successful Test captain in a career spanning 111 matches.

As a player, Fleming was New Zealand's longest-serving (80 Tests) and most successful Test captain (28 wins). He played for Middlesex, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire where also enjoyed success in captaining Notts to a drought-breaking County Championship title in 2005.

The 53-year-old led CSK to a record five Indian Premier League titles as a coach and reached the final 10 times. Fleming also led Southern Brave to the final of The Hundred competition in 2023, and has coached CSK's affiliate teams in South Africa and the USA as well as the Melbourne Stars.  

England stalwart Joe Root returns as Test captain to work alongside Fleming.

Root holds the record for captaining England Men in the most Test matches (65 Tests) as well as to the most wins (27 wins). The Yorkshireman's first spell as Test captain was from 2017-2022, he subsequently took on the role on an interim basis at the Kia Oval during the Rothesay Test Series against New Zealand earlier this summer.

Fleming's role will begin after the start of the upcoming Rothesay Test Series against Pakistan, during which Marcus Trescothick will serve as interim Head Coach.

This is to allow Fleming to spend time with his family in New Zealand after leaving his long-term association with CSK earlier this month. Fleming is set to fly to the UK later this summer to begin preparations for the South Africa Test tour.

"I'm incredibly excited to be joining England as Test Coach," said the Kiwi.

"It's one of the most prestigious coaching positions in world cricket and I am honoured to be appointed.    

"I am looking forward to working with the players and bedding in the gains made by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. Of course, the ambition is always to win now. But equally, it's about ensuring the team is well placed for the medium and long-term future. There is a lot of young talent in and around the team and our aim is to help them fulfil their potential as world-class cricketers.  

"I'm particularly looking forward to working with Joe Root as Captain - a generational talent who has achieved so much already. There is still plenty more to come from him, and I'm excited to support him so he can enjoy and thrive in the role in what is a different context to his first stint.  

"I'm also excited to work with Harry Brook. The best players are never finished products, and helping Harry continue to develop his extraordinary talent and his leadership will be an important part of this journey.  

"I know what it feels like to have the weight of leadership and international cricket take their toll, and when that happened to me, my love for the game was rekindled by going to Notts and winning the County Championship. English cricket gave that to me and it is a privilege to have this chance to give something back."  

Meanwhile, Root is looking forward to the familiar challenge that lies ahead.

"It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to be England Test captain again," he said.

"The Test captaincy is a difficult but hugely rewarding job and, after enjoying a brief taste of it again working with McCullum last month, I am excited to lead this next generation of players forward.  

"The opportunity to do that alongside Stephen is also a huge motivator. He has proved over a long period of time that he is an exceptional leader with a great knowledge of the game, and I am looking forward to working with him and helping to build a winning environment."  

Fleming is held in high regard by Managing Director of England Men's Cricket, Rob Key.

"Stephen Fleming is one of the most highly respected figures in cricket, and we are very fortunate that someone of his calibre is willing to take on the challenge of being the England Test Head Coach," he said.  

"I believe he is the best person to guide a team stacked full of potential and turn that talent into a world-class outfit that can not only achieve success but sustain it.  

"I am excited by the prospect of him working with Joe Root who will get the opportunity to lead free from the Covid restrictions that the Test team faced at the end of his first stint as captain. Joe is undoubtedly an England great and he is passionate about leading this team into a new era."