Joe Root has been confirmed as Test captain, while Stephen Fleming has been named England’s new men’s Test head coach. Fleming defeated a number of well-known applicants for the position after being unanimously chosen by the selection panel, according to an ECB statement.
Only after England’s Test series against Pakistan will Fleming take office. Marcus Trescothick will be the head coach in the interim. After 18 years with the Super Kings team, where he led CSK to two Champions League T20 crowns and five IPL titles, the former captain of New Zealand joins the England squad.
“Stephen Fleming is one of the most highly respected figures in cricket, and we are very fortunate that someone of his calibre is willing to take on the challenge of being the England Men’s Test Head Coach,” stated Rob Key, England’s managing director of cricket, regarding the hiring. “I believe he is the best person to guide a team stacked full of potential and turn that talent into a world-class outfit that can not only achieve success but sustain it.”
Ben Stokes, who declared his retirement from international cricket during the most recent Test series against New Zealand, is replaced as full-time Test captain by Root. He has captained England in 65 Test matches, winning 27, losing 27, and drawing 11, more than any other player.
The ECB cited Root as stating, “It is a great honor and privilege to be asked to be England Men’s Test captain again.” Working with Baz McCullum last month gave me a little taste of the challenging but incredibly gratifying job that is Test captaincy, and I am eager to guide this group of players ahead. “An additional major source of motivation is the chance to do that with Stephen Fleming. He has demonstrated over time that he is a superb leader with extensive game expertise, and I am excited to collaborate with him and contribute to creating a successful workplace.”
When Stokes was suspended for a game in the second Test match against New Zealand at the Oval, Root also took over as England’s captain.
“I am excited by the prospect of him working with Joe Root, who will get the opportunity to lead free from the Covid restrictions that the Test team faced at the end of his first stint as captain,” Key continued in reference to the Root-Fleming combo. “Joe is passionate about guiding this squad into a new era and is without a doubt an England great.”
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