Stephen Fleming makes World Test Championship a priority for England

Incoming England Test coach Stephen Fleming has set his sights on taking the team to No. 1 in the Test rankings and competing for the World Test Championship. He also outlined plans to develop the team’s identity ahead of a demanding schedule

New Delhi: Incoming England Test coach Stephen Fleming has set his sights on making England the No. 1 Test side again and has put the World Test Championship high on his agenda.

Fleming addressed the media at his first press conference as England’s Test coach, describing the role as one of the most prestigious jobs in cricket.

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“It’s one of the most prestigious jobs in cricket,” Fleming said. “I was very honoured to be asked.”

He has signed a contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) through September 2030 following a two-week recruitment process.

His first assignment as Test coach will be against South Africa in the winter, followed by a home Ashes series, which the New Zealander holds in high regard.

“I would love to be in charge of the No. 1 Test team in the world. That would be my aspiration,” Fleming said, outlining his ambition to take England to the top for the first time since 2012.

“I know the marquee events — the Ashes — are something I can’t wait for. As a New Zealander, I have watched and loved the Ashes all my cricketing life. To be part of that is an absolute highlight, so I can’t wait for that.

“But there is a piece of work there that has already begun, which is around our identity. There has been a lot of coverage around that.

“The way players represent England and the group is going to be really important to me. The style of play will come with that also. That will be more player-directed, but I feel very strongly about finding a sense of belonging within the group, and that will take a bit of time,” he added.

Fleming said he had started working with Test captain Joe Root and wanted England to be in its best possible shape.

“I have started the process. I have been in a lot of contact with Joe, and on this trip as well we have done some things to start this piece of work. Not only will we be in the best position to win cricket matches but also to represent the England cricket team in its best form,” he said.

Fleming also spoke about England’s approach to the World Test Championship, with the team having failed to reach the final in any of the three editions so far.

“It’s high (on the agenda), it’s aspirational,” he said of the WTC. “England could do much better than that. And even attitude just around the over rate, I think, comes down to identity and style of play.

“If that’s one of the pinnacle trophies in world cricket — why would we not be trying to get it along with every other marquee event that comes our way? Now, I don’t say that lightly; there’s a lot of hard work to do, and players must be balanced around that. But it’s aspirational, and that’s why I’m here. That opportunity is real, but there’s a huge amount of work to do.”

The New Zealander takes over from Brendon McCullum, who served as England’s Test coach from 2022.

Fleming takes charge after an underwhelming run for England over the last 18 months, something he believes would have hurt McCullum.

“That was one thing that will probably hurt him (McCullum) a little bit (underperformance) — I think he feels what I feel now, that there’s an opportunity around the corner. He was also realistic about what had gone on and just very honest,” Fleming said.

“It’s interesting when you go to watch as a bystander for the first half of the year, then things change quite quickly to a real narrow focus on where the team was at.

“Was I the right person to take the team forward and then deemed by the ECB to be the right person? That process was very thorough. I was constantly watching the good and the bad and analysing that in a much different way than I would have done in early April.

“One of the dark arts of coaching is timing… my honest appraisal, it’s a great time to be the head coach. I think there’s a real opportunity with the players coming through,” he added.