England expected to appoint Stephen Fleming as Test coach

By Rohan Gupta — 29 July 2026 — 3 min read

Fleming to Lead Test Side

Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain, is anticipated to be named as England’s Test coach. This appointment follows a series of interviews with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over the past two weeks. Fleming is expected to work alongside his compatriot and former teammate Brendon McCullum, who will continue to manage England’s white-ball teams.

The ECB removed McCullum from his role as Test coach earlier this month after a period of poor results and several off-field incidents. McCullum had initially enjoyed a strong start, winning 10 out of 12 Tests in his first year. However, since then, England has lost 18 and won 17 of their subsequent 37 Tests, and has not secured a multi-match series victory since December 2024.

Fleming’s potential appointment comes after he stepped down as head coach of the Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings, as well as its subsidiaries Joburg Super Kings in South Africa’s SA20 and Texas Super Kings in America’s Major League Cricket. This decision by Fleming occurred shortly after McCullum’s dismissal from the Test coaching position.

Extensive Coaching and Playing Background

While Fleming has not previously served as a head coach for a national team, he has a significant coaching career in franchise cricket since retiring as a player in 2009. He notably led Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles from nine finals and two Champions League T20 crowns during his 17-year tenure. He also coached Southern Brave in The Hundred for two seasons, reaching the final in 2024.

Fleming’s experience in English cricket is extensive, including playing 10 Tests and 17 ODIs in England between 1994 and 2004, and having spells with Middlesex, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire, where he won the County Championship in 2005.

He made 111 appearances for New Zealand in Test cricket, scoring over 7,000 runs at an average of 40.06. He remains the Black Caps’ most successful captain, with 28 wins from 80 matches. Fleming was approached by England in 2009 but declined the offer at the time, stating it was not the right moment for him.

Impact on Team Leadership and Future Matches

If appointed, Fleming will have input, alongside director of men’s cricket Rob Key and national selector Marcus North, in selecting a new Test captain. This follows Ben Stokes’ unexpected retirement from international cricket in June. Harry Brook, the current England vice-captain, had received backing from Stokes to be his successor but was overlooked for the role earlier in the summer, partly due to a nightclub incident last winter.

It is anticipated that Fleming will be in position for the tour of South Africa, which is scheduled to begin in December. However, it is unclear if he will lead England in the three-Test series against Pakistan, commencing at Headingley on 19 August. Assistant coach Marcus Trescothick and former skipper Joe Root, who captained the side in Stokes’ absence during the second Test against New Zealand, could potentially fill the roles of head coach and captain on an interim basis for the Pakistan series.

Other candidates reportedly considered for the role included former England coach Andy Flower, who ruled himself out, and former Australian head coach Justin Langer, who stated he had not been contacted by the ECB. Jonathan Trott, Richard Dawson, Gareth Batty, Tom Moody, Darren Lehmann, and Ryan Campbell were also among the names linked to the position.

Fleming’s relationship with McCullum, described as close friends and business associates, is believed to have given him an advantage over other candidates. McCullum has previously cited Fleming’s tactical leadership and man-management skills as a major influence on his own career.

The decision to remove McCullum came after the ECB reflected on the men’s team’s situation, following a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and a 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand, which included Stokes’ retirement announcement during the third Test.

Source: bbc.com