30 July,2026 03:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Stephen Fleming (File pic)
Former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming has positioned himself as the frontrunner to take over as England's new Test head coach, with an appointment nearing completion following a week-long interviewing phase, according to a report by The Telegraph UK.
Fleming is reportedly the favoured candidate to succeed his former Kiwi teammate Brendon McCullum, who was relieved of his duties as England Test coach after the retirement of captain Ben Stokes.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is keen on securing the 53-year-old, who made 111 Test appearances for New Zealand. However, it is still uncertain if he will step into the role before England's three-Test series against Pakistan, which starts at Headingley in three weeks.
The ECB is reportedly open to having assistant coach Marcus Trescothick lead the side on an interim basis for the Pakistan fixtures, allowing the permanent Test coach to take control ahead of England's tour to South Africa in December.
Fleming is believed to have moved ahead of domestic contenders Richard Dawson and Jonathan Trott, alongside former Australian coach Tom Moody. Former England coach Andy Flower was initially seen as a top contender, but he withdrew from consideration to concentrate on his franchise obligations, The Telegraph reported.
Fleming brings a wealth of coaching experience from his long tenure with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he guided the team to five titles. He also managed their affiliate franchises in Major League Cricket and South Africa's SA20.
The former Kiwi captain departed CSK earlier this month, shortly after McCullum was removed from the England setup, opening the door for his potential move to national coaching.
Fleming and McCullum share a close bond, having played alongside each other for New Zealand. McCullum debuted in Test cricket under Fleming's leadership and has frequently viewed him as a mentor.
The Telegraph added that Fleming's tactical and leadership style stand out as key drivers behind his candidacy, despite his lack of recent coaching experience in red-ball cricket.
In the playing squad, England are expected to have former captain Joe Root lead the team during the Pakistan series, while deciding on a permanent skipper could be delegated to the incoming Test coach. Harry Brook also stands as a primary option for the leadership role, The Telegraph reported.
(With inputs from ANI)
