Stephen Fleming says developing English coaches will be a priority during his tenure as England men’s Test coach, even as he prepares to become the latest overseas coach to lead the side.
The former New Zealand captain said he believed England’s national team should primarily be coached by an English representative. His staff includes former England players Marcus Trescothick, James Foster and Richard Dawson, while Jonathan Trott is due to take charge of England Lions after also being considered for the Test role.
Fleming also plans to bring county coaches and former England players into the set-up at times. He has visited counties, played for Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Middlesex, and expects to spend part of next summer watching domestic cricket before England’s home Ashes series.
His first series will be three Tests in South Africa in December and January. England’s squad is due to be named in the first week of November, after Fleming’s appointment begins following the Pakistan series, during which Trescothick served as interim coach.
England will then tour Bangladesh for two Tests in February, where spin is expected to be important. Shoaib Bashir is the only specialist red-ball spinner among England’s fully central-contracted players, while Mason Crane and Liam Patterson-White have development deals.
He succeeds Brendon McCullum as Test coach, with McCullum continuing to lead England’s white-ball teams, while Joe Root returns as Test captain.