Stephen Fleming, England’s new Test head coach, says he wants to build on the foundations left by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes while shaping the team’s future generation.
The former New Zealand captain hailed the role as “one of the most prestigious coaching positions in world cricket,” and stated that he was “incredibly excited” and “honoured” to take over.
The former New Zealand captain, who just ended his long and successful career with the Chennai Super Kings, was named McCullum’s replacement when England decided to change things up following the end of the Stokes-McCullum period.
McCullum left after England’s 2-1 home Test series defeat to New Zealand, which followed a dismal Ashes campaign, and Stokes withdrew from international cricket after the series.
Joe Root has since been reinstated as Test captain, with Fleming expected to take over following England’s next series against Pakistan. Marcus Trescothick will handle the assignment in an interim role while Fleming remains in New Zealand with his family.
I’m very delighted to be joining England as Test Coach. Fleming said he is thrilled to be chosen to one of the most prominent coaching jobs in international cricket.
He is forward to work with the players and build on the achievements of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. Of course, the goal is always to win today.
However, it is also important to ensure that the team is well-positioned for the medium and long term. There is a lot of young talent in and around the squad, and our goal is to help them reach their full potential as world-class cricketers.
Fleming praised Root, who is returning as England’s full-time Test captain after guiding the team for 65 matches.
I’m particularly excited to work with Joe Root as captain, a generational talent who has already accomplished so much. There is still much more to come from him, and I’m delighted to help him enjoy and grow in the role in a different setting than his initial tenure.”
He also emphasised Harry Brook’s important role in England’s future, stating that the all-format star’s development as a batter and leader will remain a top priority.
“I am also delighted to work with Harry Brook. The finest players are never finished products, and helping Harry continue to develop his remarkable talent and leadership will be a critical part of this journey.”
England is now ranked fifth in the ICC Test rankings and has gone 14 months without winning a Test series, losing eight of their last 13 matches. Fleming feels that his leadership experience and renewed passion for the game will help him steer the team to the next phase.
I understand how it feels to have the weight of leadership and international cricket weigh on you, and when that happened to me, moving to Notts and winning the County Championship reignited my passion for the game.
“English cricket gave that to me, and it is an honour to have this opportunity to give something back,” he said.
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