Now Reading: McCullum backs Fleming as England Test coach, hails him as better version
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McCullum backs Fleming as England Test coach, hails him as better version
Stephen Fleming will take over as England's Test coach after the ECB parted ways with Brendon McCullum following a 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand and a poor Ashes campaign. McCullum…
The Story in Brief
Stephen Fleming will take over as England's Test coach after the ECB parted ways with Brendon McCullum following a 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand and a poor Ashes campaign. McCullum called his former New Zealand teammate and close friend 'a little bit like me, but better' in a Sky Sports interview, while fast bowler Ollie Robinson admitted he had not met Fleming but had 'heard good things'.
Fleming, 53, who led Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles, will start with the tour of South Africa after Marcus Trescothick oversees the three-Test home series against Pakistan starting August 19. Robinson, eyeing a return after a seven-wicket haul at Lord's in June, said Ben Stokes's sudden retirement had left the dressing room 'a bit shocked' and urged England to target a 3-0 win over Pakistan.
The Indian Opinion
English cricket again treats coaching changes as a fresh start, but the squad's problems run deeper than a new Kiwi at the helm. McCullum's own record underlines that: bold cricket wins when players are fit and settled, not when a dressing room is reeling from a captain's shock retirement. Robinson is right to insist on ruthlessness, yet the real test is whether the ECB's split-coaching structure stops the revolving door. Watch the Pakistan series scoreline and how often players blame transitions for flat performances.
Sources (2): sports.ndtv.com, thehansindia.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
