Stephen Fleming, the newly appointed head coach of England's Test side, has made it clear that his top priority is to guide the team back to the number one spot in the international rankings. While the ambition is lofty, he cautioned that a significant cultural shift is required, particularly around the disciplinary lapses that have plagued the squad this summer.
The disciplinary concerns resurfaced in June when Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were barred from the second Test of a series that England eventually lost 2‑1 to New Zealand. The two players were implicated in a nightclub incident that followed England’s opening victory at Lord's, drawing widespread media scrutiny. In a separate episode, fast‑bowler Brydon Carse was detained outside a Derby nightclub and consequently missed the second and third Tests of England’s clean‑sweep of Pakistan. Though the police later closed the investigation without laying charges, the episode added to a growing list of alcohol‑related controversies involving England cricketers.
Test captain Joe Root publicly expressed his frustration, saying he felt "hacked off" by the frequency of such incidents. Fleming did not shy away from commenting on these matters. "It’s disappointing," he said, stressing that the way players conduct themselves on and off the field reflects directly on England and the broader cricketing community.
He praised Root’s candidness in the press conference where the captain voiced his displeasure, noting that Root’s example sets a benchmark for professional behaviour. "If you want a great example of how to behave as an international cricketer, Joe Root is it," Fleming asserted. "There’s work to be done, and that comes back to making sure we’re tying into something a bit bigger than oneself." Since taking the helm on 30 July, Fleming has been in regular contact with Root, despite not being officially on board for the Pakistan series due to family and commercial commitments. He also reached out to Stokes, who announced his retirement from international cricket in June.
When asked about the possibility of Stokes returning for the home Ashes next summer, Fleming noted that the 35‑year‑old appeared "really happy and seemed to be at peace with his decision." He added, "My view is that when a player decides to retire, it’s a big decision, and I have the utmost respect for that decision." Looking ahead, Fleming expressed genuine excitement about the upcoming Ashes, calling it "an absolute highlight" of his coaching agenda. He also spoke enthusiastically about the talent pool he is inheriting. "I would love to be in charge of the number one Test team in the world.
That would be my aspiration," he said. "My honest appraisal is it’s a great time to be the head coach. I think it’s a real opportunity with the players that are coming through." He highlighted the pace attack that impressed him during the Pakistan series, praising the way the bowlers operated. The introduction of emerging talents such as Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence, along with the return of Jacob Bethell, was also noted as a positive development.
"There’s talent there competing for places, and that’s always the barometer. If you’re leaving very good players out, then you’re going to be in a healthy situation," Fleming explained. England currently sit sixth in the 2025‑2027 World Test Championship cycle, having missed out on the final in each of the previous three editions. Fleming believes the team can improve dramatically.
"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?" he asked. "That opportunity is real, but there’s a huge amount of work to do." When discussing the style of play he intends to cultivate, Fleming paid tribute to the revolutionary influence of Ben Stokes and his former New Zealand teammate, Brendon McCullum, who now serves as England’s white‑ball coach. He wants to blend the positive, attacking ethos they introduced with a more nuanced cricketing sense for key moments. While some have speculated about a new moniker such as "Flemball," Fleming laughed it off, calling it "a medical condition" and insisting there will be no gimmick label attached to his approach.
He said, "I really loved the positive play and the freeing up of the England players, so if I could take that and combine a little bit of cricket sense around some key moments, that would be ideal. There are key times in a match that you have to be really smart, and maybe we can just work a bit harder on that – but still combine the positive nature of the players that are in there." During an appearance on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Fleming elaborated on his admiration for Root and the decision to reinstall him as Test captain.
Root previously led England from 2017 to 2022 before being replaced by Stokes after a string of poor results. After Stokes stepped down, there was speculation that white‑ball captain Harry Brook might take over across formats, but Fleming welcomed Root’s return. "I am a really big fan of Root," Fleming said.
"I think he is a wonderful player and ambassador for the game, so to work with him was really appealing." He described Root as embodying the qualities of an ideal international cricketer: exceptional skill, humility, and leadership. "He epitomises everything that is great about an international player.
He is greatness, but a wonderful human being in the way that he conducts himself and can go about being great. He is such a great role model and such a perfect person for a young group of players.
It was a no‑brainer for me, for him to be captain," Fleming added. Fleming clarified his role in supporting Root, noting that it involves providing constructive criticism as well as encouragement. "Root is in charge.
If he is going out and making key decisions, he is in charge. My role is very closely linked to provide him with what he needs.
That can be criticism, constructively, so it’s not just a yes position. I want him to be the best he can be and I think there is still room to grow in his captaincy with this group. I don’t necessarily know what that looks like but I know there is growth and that’s exciting."