Stephen Fleming is expected to be appointed as England’s Test coach after impressing the England and Wales Cricket Board in a series of interviews over the past two weeks. The 53-year-old New Zealander is set to succeed Brendon McCullum in the role, while McCullum is expected to remain in charge of England’s white-ball teams.
The move would keep a New Zealand link at the heart of England’s coaching set-up, with Fleming working alongside his predecessor, a former teammate and long-time friend. It also comes after Fleming stepped down this month as head coach of Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings, as well as their subsidiaries Joburg Super Kings in South Africa’s SA20 and Texas Super Kings in America’s Major League Cricket.
Fleming’s expected appointment matters because it would shape England’s red-ball direction heading into a significant run of fixtures, with the next major overseas assignment a tour of South Africa starting in December.
Timeline: Pakistan series and a likely December start
It is expected Fleming will be in place for the tour of South Africa that begins in December. However, the three-Test series against Pakistan, which starts at Headingley on 19 August, may still be overseen by an interim coach, with Marcus Trescothick described as the probable option.
Fleming’s departure from the Super Kings set-up was announced this month. The announcement followed Chennai Super Kings finishing eighth out of 10 teams in this year’s IPL, after a last-place finish in 2025. The timing also came less than 24 hours after McCullum’s departure as Test coach, which opened the door for England to move quickly in the market.
England’s process has included a series of interviews over the past fortnight, during which Fleming is understood to have impressed decision-makers at the ECB. If confirmed, his arrival would represent a high-profile appointment with extensive experience across franchise and international environments, and a long-standing familiarity with English conditions.
Fleming’s English cricket background
Fleming has a lengthy association with cricket in England, both as a player and a coach. He played 10 Tests and 17 one-day internationals in the country between 1994 and 2004, and also had spells with Middlesex, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.
His coaching work in England includes a two-year stint with Southern Brave in the Hundred, a role he left in 2024. That combination of playing and coaching experience in English cricket is a key part of his profile as England look to settle on a successor for McCullum in the Test role.
A role previously offered — and declined
Fleming was approached by England in 2009 shortly after retiring as a player, but turned the opportunity down at the time. “I was flattered to be offered,” he said. “It came down to the fact it wasn’t my time. If I get another couple of years [as a coach] I can see if it is what I want to do and if I would be any good at it.”
England ultimately turned to Andy Flower then, and the current vacancy has emerged after McCullum’s exit from the Test job.
Why Fleming rose to the top of England’s shortlist
Fleming’s relationship with McCullum is described as a factor that gave him an advantage over other candidates. Among the names mentioned as rivals for the role were the Australian Tom Moody, the former England batter and Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott, and Richard Dawson, the head coach at Glamorgan.
Beyond their friendship, Fleming and McCullum have also been business associates at two companies: the software company CricHQ and the export business Quality New Zealand. Daniel Vettori, another former New Zealand captain coaching in England, at Sunrisers Leeds, described the pair as “very good friends” with “a lot of similar traits”.
McCullum’s respect for Fleming has been clear publicly. McCullum made 126 of his 432 international appearances under Fleming’s captaincy before taking over from him, and has described Fleming as a major influence. “The way Stephen Fleming led the team tactically was something that really resonated with me,” McCullum said in 2019.
“He’s one of my great mates as well now, and what I loved about Stephen Fleming is whilst on the field it looked quite instinctive there was always scores and scores of detail in behind.
“The other thing I loved about him was his man management as a leader. It’s very hard to ask players to implement the plans that you have if you don’t understand those players.”
If Fleming’s appointment is confirmed as expected, England will move into their next phase with a coach who knows the environment, has recent high-level experience, and arrives with a close working relationship already established at the top of the set-up.
