Eric Simons set to join England as Test bowling coach

Eric Simons will join England's Test coaching group as bowling coach, with the appointment due to be confirmed on Monday when England publish the latest round of central contracts, the BBC reported on 11 October 2026.

New Zealander Stephen Fleming is assembling a backroom for his first series in charge, against South Africa in December, after England again split head-coaching duties across formats with Fleming responsible for Tests and Brendon McCullum overseeing the white-ball teams. Simons, 64, is a long-time Fleming ally who has worked alongside him in the Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings and at the Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 and the Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket. He played 23 one-day internationals for South Africa in 1994 and 1995, had two years in charge of the South Africa team between 2002 and 2004 and also held a spell as India's bowling coach.

England have previously used specialist fast-bowling consultants while McCullum was Test coach, naming figures such as James Anderson, David Saker and Tim Southee in those roles. David Saker will be part of the England staff for the one-day tri-series in Pakistan this month, and will work alongside long-term McCullum assistant Jeetan Patel, Mike Yardy and Carl Hopkinson on that assignment. Tim Southee and fielding coach Sarah Taylor, who were with England throughout the home summer, might rejoin the team later in the winter.

Kevin Pietersen has been appointed as a batting consultant to England's white-ball teams in the run-up to the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa. Pietersen will not travel for the tour of Pakistan but is due to join the squad for the white-ball tour of Australia and then in South Africa for the three one-day internationals in January. He is described in the report as a former England batter.

Marcus Trescothick took interim charge of the Test team for the series against Pakistan, and his future within the England set-up has been the subject of speculation and is yet to be confirmed. The broader staff reshuffle accompanies England's decision to separate coaching responsibilities by format as Fleming builds his Test backroom.

Simons' addition will be formalised on Monday ahead of Fleming's first series in charge against South Africa in December, when England's latest central contracts are announced.