Former Nottinghamshire captain Stephen Fleming has been appointed England Men’s Test Head Coach.
Fleming, who led Notts to the County Championship title in 2005, the first time the domestic game’s most prestigious trophy had returned to Trent Bridge since 1987.
Across three summers in West Bridgford, the New Zealand international averaged 55.49 with the bat, and led his county to promotion back to Division One in his final season as skipper in 2007.
At international level, Fleming was New Zealand’s longest-serving (80 Tests) and most successful Test captain (28 wins).
As a coach, he led CSK to a record five Indian Premier League titles and reached the final 10 times. Fleming also led Southern Brave to the final of The Hundred men's competition in 2023, and has coached CSK’s affiliate teams in South Africa and the USA as well as the Melbourne Stars.
He will take over the reins as England coach for this winter’s tour of South Africa, with Marcus Trescothick serving in an interim capacity for the upcoming series against Pakistan.
“We’re delighted to see such a legendary Notts figure appointed to one of the biggest jobs in world cricket,” said Nottinghamshire’s Director of Cricket Mick Newell, who brought Fleming to Trent Bridge in 2005.
“He made an immediate impact for us 20 years ago. Not only was he a world-class player, he had a superb tactical brain and a galvanising impact as a leader.
“Even though he only spent three summers with us, the difference he made to us is difficult to overstate.
“It feels only fitting that we will host one of his first home Tests as coach when the Men’s Ashes arrive at Trent Bridge, and we can’t wait to welcome him back.”
Meanwhile, Joe Root, the leading century-maker in Tests at Trent Bridge, has been reappointed as Test captain.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining England as Test Coach,” said Fleming.
“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.
“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.”