Former CSK coach Stephen Fleming has decided to take over the England Test team job
Former CSK tactician Stephen Fleming is set to take over as the new coach of the England Test team, according to a Telegraph report. Fleming has emerged as the frontrunner for the job after a week of talks to identify Brendon McCullum’s successor.
Fleming will work in tandem with his compatriot McCullum, who will continue as England’s white-ball coach. McCullum was sacked from his role earlier in the month, following the retirement of Ben Stokes and poor results in the Ashes and the series against New Zealand.
England’s next Test is just three weeks away, with the Test series against Pakistan beginning. They currently have no captain or head coach.
According to the report, the England and Wales Cricket Board wants to give the job to Fleming. The former New Zealand captain is understood to have emerged as the front-runner for the vacant Test coaching position in England, expanding a field that included England candidates Richard Dawson and Jonathan Trott along with former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody.
Andy Flower was initially considered the main contenderbut the former England coach backed out of consideration and decided to continue with his franchise coaching commitments at Royal Challengers Bengaluru and London Spirit. Former Australian head coach Justin Langer also distanced himself from the process, revealing on Wednesday that he had not been approached by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The search for England’s next Test coach was overseen by chief executive Rob Key, who worked with a recruitment firm to identify McCullum’s successor.
Fleming’s coaching credentials were largely built through his highly successful association with Chennai Super Kings. Since starting his international career in 2008, the former New Zealand captain has turned CSK into one of the most successful IPL franchises during his long tenure as head coach.
His responsibilities extended beyond the IPL, with Fleming also overseeing the Super Kings teams in Major League Cricket, where he coached the Texas Super Kings, and in South Africa’s SA20 competition with the Joburg Super Kings.
The New Zealander parted ways with the Super Kings earlier this monthshortly after Brendon McCullum’s exit from the England set-up, paving the way for him to be considered for the national role.
Fleming also has previous coaching experience in England domestic cricket, having spent two seasons with the Southern Brave in The Hundred until 2024. During his playing career he enjoyed successful county spells with Nottinghamshire and also represented Yorkshire and Middlesex.
It remains uncertain whether Fleming will be in place before England begin their Test series against Pakistan. The ECB have indicated they are comfortable allowing assistant coach Marcus Trescothick to oversee the side on a temporary basis if necessary, with the expectation that the permanent appointment could officially take charge ahead of December’s tour of South Africa, England’s next engagement in the longest format.
The timing would still leave the incoming coach a limited window to prepare the team for one of its biggest challenges. England are scheduled to play just 10 Tests before this summer’s Ashes on home soil, where the primary objective will be to claim the urn.
England have not beaten Australia in an Ashes series since 2015, meaning ending a decade-long drought is likely to be Fleming’s first big test if he is confirmed in his role.
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Published on:
29 Jul 2026 22:35 IST