Fleming brings former Chennai Super Kings aides Foster and Simons into England Test coaching

On October 12, 2026, Stephen Fleming recruited James Foster and Eric Simons into England's Test coaching setup ahead of the winter tour of South Africa, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed. The ECB also announced Fleming will lead the men's Test programme while Brendon McCullum remains head coach of the white-ball teams.

The ECB's release set out a national coaching structure for its men's Test and white-ball squads, building around Fleming and McCullum. Fleming, who enjoyed a long association with Chennai Super Kings as head coach, has brought two colleagues from that franchise into his Test backroom. The appointments were described as part of the wider coaching structure confirmed by the ECB.

Foster and Simons are former colleagues of Fleming at the Indian Premier League franchise; Simons was part of the Chennai Super Kings coaching setup between 2018 and 2026. Simons has also worked with India men's team as a bowling consultant and previously served as South Africa men's head coach. Foster is a former England wicketkeeper who worked as a white-ball consultant for England between 2018 and 2022 before joining New Zealand's coaching setup and has coached Northern Superchargers in The Hundred; he has also worked in the IPL, Pakistan Super League and Bangladesh Premier League.

Fleming's Test coaching group will also include Richard Dawson and Marcus Trescothick. Dawson returns to England's coaching structure after two years as Glamorgan head coach. He guided Glamorgan to promotion to Division One of the County Championship in 2025 and helped them retain their place in the top division in 2026.

Dawson has taken on the newly created role of Elite National Spin Bowling Lead. He will join Mike Yardy, who was appointed Elite National Batting Lead, and Troy Cooley, who began work as Elite National Pace Bowling Lead earlier this year. McCullum's white-ball coaching group will feature Sarah Taylor, Jeetan Patel and Tim Southee, with former England batter Kevin Pietersen contributing in a mentoring role.

The respective coaching teams will take charge from England's upcoming tours of South Africa in Test cricket and Australia in white-ball cricket, as the ECB reshapes its support structure across formats.