Stephen Fleming named new England Test head coach as Joe Root returns as captain

New Zealander Stephen Fleming has been confirmed as England’s new Test head coach and Joe Root will take over again as red-ball captain.

Five-time Indian Premier League winner Fleming will replace compatriot Brendon McCullum, who lost his role in charge of the Test set-up after a 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand in June, which followed a disastrous Ashes campaign.

Ben Stokes stepped down as Test captain and retired from international cricket after defeat at Trent Bridge last month and the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Thursday that Root will step up to fill the void.

The decision to return to Root, who has captained England in 65 Tests, will allow all-format player Harry Brook to focus on the white-ball captaincy ahead of next year’s World Cup.

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Excited

Root will resume his reign as captain in the three-match series with Pakistan in August, but ex-Chennai Super Kings coach Fleming will not be in charge and Marcus Trescothick will instead act as interim head coach with the former New Zealand captain back in his homeland to spend time with his family.

Fleming said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining England as Test coach. 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.”

Generational talent

He added: “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.”

Outstanding record

Fleming boasted an outstanding record in Test cricket as New Zealand captain, winning 28 matches and also played alongside McCullum for six years.

The Kiwi duo have since extended their association to co-founding digital platform CricHQ in 2015 and were coaching rivals for a period in the IPL, with Fleming’s Super Kings defeating McCullum’s Kolkata Knight Riders in the final of the 2021 edition.

An already-positive relationship between Fleming and McCullum will be a welcome bonus for the ECB after previous difficulties trying to make the split-head coach role work.

Whilst Fleming has never coached in Test cricket before, he did captain Nottinghamshire to County Championship success in 2005 and more recently guided Southern Brave to The Hundred final three years ago.

Fleming impressed ECB chiefs during a round of interviews, after Andy Flower ruled himself out of the running earlier this month.

Best person

Rob Key, director of England men’s cricket, said: “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 men’s Test head coach.

“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.”

Root won 27 Tests during his first spell as England captain between 2017 and 2022.

“It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to be England men’s Test captain again,” Root said.

“The Test captaincy is a difficult but hugely rewarding job and, after enjoying a brief taste of it again working with Baz 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.”

READ MORE: Stephen Fleming poised to become England Test coach