{"id":833640,"date":"2026-07-30T15:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/833640\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T15:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T15:00:12","slug":"england-appoint-root-and-fleming-as-test-cricket-captain-and-coach-cricket-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/833640\/","title":{"rendered":"England appoint Root and Fleming as Test cricket captain and coach | Cricket News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"article__subhead\">England confirm Joe Root to return as Test captain, while Stephen Fleming replaces Brendan McCullum as coach.<\/p>\n<p>Published On 30 Jul 202630 Jul 2026<\/p>\n<p>England named Joe Root as Test captain and appointed former \u2060New Zealand batter Stephen Fleming as head coach following the departures of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.<\/p>\n<p>Root, England\u2019s all-time leading run scorer in Tests, captained the side in \u2060a record 64 matches between 2017 and 2022, winning 27 of them.<\/p>\n<p>The 35-year-old returns to the role after Stokes retired from international cricket last month and will lead England in the three-Test home series against Pakistan starting on August 19.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is a great honour and privilege to be asked to be England \u200cmen\u2019s test captain again,\u201d Root said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Test captaincy is a difficult but hugely rewarding job and, after enjoying a brief taste of it again working with Brendon McCullum last month, I am excited to lead this next generation of players forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe opportunity to do that alongside Stephen is also a huge motivator.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe has proved over a long period of time that he is an exceptional leader with a great knowledge of the game, and \u2060I am looking forward to working with him and helping to build \u2060a winning environment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Root led England in the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval this summer in Stokes\u2019 absence.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-4816467\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-04-14T131408Z_2075634237_UP1EM4E10RIJ1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-IPL-CSK-KKR-1785407254.jpg\" alt=\"Stephen Fleming was head coach of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL before taking the England job\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>Stephen Fleming was head coach of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL before taking the England job [File: Abhijit Addya\/Reuters]<\/p>\n<p>Fleming takes charge of an England side looking to rebuild after poor results and a series \u2060of off-field incidents that led to McCullum\u2019s dismissal.<\/p>\n<p>New Zealander McCullum remains coach of England\u2019s white-ball teams.<\/p>\n<p>Fleming had been head coach of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League prior to the England job.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m incredibly excited to be joining England as Test \u2060Coach. It\u2019s one of the most prestigious coaching positions in \u2060world cricket and I am honoured to be appointed,\u201d 53-year-old Fleming said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m particularly looking forward to working with Joe Root as captain \u2013 a generational talent who has achieved so much already.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is still plenty more to come from him, \u200cand I\u2019m excited to support him so he can enjoy and thrive in the role in what is a different context to his first stint.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fleming, who played 111 Tests for New Zealand \u200cand \u200ccaptained the team, will start as coach after the test series against Pakistan, with assistant coach Marcus Trescothick leading the side on an interim basis until then.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"England confirm Joe Root to return as Test captain, while Stephen Fleming replaces Brendan McCullum as coach. 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