England have reappointed Joe Root as their Test captain and named former New Zealand batter Stephen Fleming as the team’s new head coach following the departures of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Thursday.
Root, 35, will return to the captaincy for England’s three-Test home series against Pakistan, beginning on August 19. Fleming will take charge as Test coach after that series, with former England opener Marcus Trescothick serving as interim coach in the meantime.
Joe Root returns as England Test captain
Root previously led England in a record 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022, winning 27 matches. He returns to the role after Stokes retired from international cricket in June.
Root also captained England in the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval this summer when Stokes was unavailable.
England’s leading Test run-scorer, Root has accumulated 14,114 runs in the format and is second on the all-time list behind India great Sachin Tendulkar.
“It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to be England men’s test captain again,” Root said in a statement.
Root said the captaincy is demanding but rewarding and expressed his enthusiasm about leading England’s next generation of players. He also welcomed the opportunity to work with Fleming, describing the New Zealander as an exceptional leader with extensive knowledge of the game.
Stephen Fleming appointed England Test coach
Fleming, 53, will take over England’s Test coaching role as the team begins a rebuilding phase. The appointment follows McCullum’s departure from the Test setup after a decline in results and a series of off-field incidents.
McCullum remains involved with England as coach of the white-ball teams, while Fleming will focus on the red-ball side.
“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,” Fleming said.
Fleming specifically highlighted the opportunity to work with Root, calling him a generational talent and saying he wants to help the veteran batter succeed in his second stint as captain.
Fleming brings IPL success but no international red-ball coaching experience
Fleming has developed a strong reputation as a franchise coach, particularly during his time with Chennai Super Kings. He has guided the Indian Premier League franchise to five IPL titles as well as two Champions League Twenty20 crowns.
His appointment to England is nevertheless a new challenge because Fleming has not previously coached an international red-ball team.
Fleming said his immediate ambition would be to win while also ensuring England are positioned strongly for the medium and long term. He also said he wanted to build on the progress made under McCullum and Stokes.
England seek to recover after Test results decline
England made a rapid start under McCullum, winning 10 of their first 12 Tests after he took charge. Their results subsequently declined, with England losing 18 of their next 37 Tests, including seven of their last nine.
During McCullum’s tenure, England also failed to win a five-Test series against either Australia or India.
The team currently sits seventh in the World Test Championship standings, adding significance to the rebuilding process under Root and Fleming.
Pakistan series will begin new Test leadership era
Root’s return to the captaincy will begin with England’s three-Test home series against Pakistan from August 19. Fleming will formally assume the coaching position after the series, while Trescothick will oversee the team as interim coach until then.
The transition marks a new phase for England’s Test side, with Root returning to a leadership role he previously held for five years and Fleming moving from successful franchise coaching into international red-ball cricket.
Source: Reuters
