England announce new head coach and captain to follow ‘Bazball’ era

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has replaced Brendon McCullum as England Test coach with Joe Root as captain.

McCullum was sacked earlier in July following a disappointing seven defeats in nine Tests.

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‘Bazball’ started to collapse with a dismal 4-1 Ashes series defeat in Australia last winter.

The team were also dogged by off-field episodes.

Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Josh Tongue and Ben Duckett were all involved in late-night incidents during the winter.

After England won the first Test of the summer against New Zealand, the series was derailed when Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson broke the team’s midnight curfew.

They were present when a member of security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player. Both were subsequently suspended.

Stokes later retired two weeks before McCullum was sacked as coach. He remains as England’s white ball coach.

Fleming has now been appointed with Joe Root confirmed as England captain again.

Who is Stephen Fleming?

Fleming comes in as one of the highest regarded coaches in world cricket following an 18-year association with Chennai Super Kings, where he won five Indian Premier League titles.

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. 

Fleming’s role will begin after the start of the upcoming Test series against Pakistan, during which Marcus Trescothick will serve as interim head coach. 

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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. 

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.   

“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.  

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“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.”  

Root added: “It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to be England Men’s Test captain again. 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.”