Stephen Fleming set to be named England Test coach after impressing ECB
Stephen Fleming is expected to be named England’s Test coach after impressing the England and Wales Cricket Board in a series of interviews over the past two weeks. The New Zealander is likely to start on the South Africa tour in December.
The 53-year-old would succeed Brendon McCullum and is expected to work alongside his predecessor, who remains in charge of England’s white-ball teams. Fleming stood down as head coach of the Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings this month and also left roles with their Joburg Super Kings and Texas Super Kings affiliates. The announcement about his departures came after CSK finished eighth out of 10 teams in this year’s IPL, following on from a last-place finish in 2025, and arrived less than 24 hours after McCullum was sacked by the ECB as Test coach.
Sources close to the selection process say Fleming’s interview performances over the past two weeks convinced the board that he is the right candidate for the red-ball role. The expectation within the ECB is that he will be formally appointed in the near term and will assume responsibilities before the scheduled tour of South Africa in December. Fleming’s reported recruitment follows a targeted search for a figure who can build on recent progress in England Test cricket.
Fleming’s decision to relinquish his CSK duties this month ended a long-standing association with the franchise and its international offshoots. He had been linked with the Super Kings group across multiple competitions and formats, and his departures cover the Chennai, Joburg and Texas operations. The timing of that move, coming after a disappointing IPL campaign for CSK, was noted by observers in the domestic and international game.
Chennai Super Kings’ placing eighth out of 10 teams in this year’s IPL was a significant decline from their standing in 2025, when they finished bottom of the table. That sequence of results framed the announcement of Fleming’s resignation from the franchises and added context to the broader coaching reshuffle affecting England. Less than 24 hours elapsed between Brendon McCullum’s dismissal as England Test coach by the ECB and the news of Fleming stepping away from the Super Kings.
Fleming would work alongside his predecessor, compatriot, former teammate and friend Brendon McCullum, who remains in charge of the white-ball teams. The pairing would see McCullum continue to lead the limited-overs programmes while Fleming takes primary responsibility for the Test side.
A formal confirmation of Fleming’s appointment is widely anticipated and, if completed, would see him assume the Test coaching role in time for the December tour to South Africa. The move would mark a clear change at the top of England’s red-ball set-up while preserving continuity across the national coaching staff.