Fleming targets Ashes win as England's new Test coach
Stephen Fleming has set himself one clear mission as England's new Test coach: beat Australia.
Fleming said he shares English cricket's obsession with the Ashes, the long-running Test series between England and Australia. His goal, in his own words, is to beat the Aussies, according to BBC.
The former New Zealand batter was appointed in July. He is the second New Zealander in a row to hold the job, following Brendon McCullum. Fleming will take charge for the first time on the tour of South Africa in December.
That change at the top followed a difficult run. McCullum was sacked as Test coach earlier this summer but remains in charge of the white-ball team, which plays the shorter one-day and T20 formats. England won only two of his final 10 Tests.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the new leadership pairing in July, naming Fleming as Men's Test Head Coach with Joe Root returning as captain, according to the ECB. Reuters also reported the double appointment on 30 July. Root later said Fleming's arrival was a big reason he agreed to take the captaincy again.
Fleming inherits a familiar problem. England have not beaten Australia in an Ashes series since 2015. They lost 4-1 in Australia last winter. The next Ashes will be in the UK next summer, which gives him less than a year to shape the side.
What makes this stand out is how personal it feels for Fleming. He played 14 Tests against Australia without ever tasting victory. That record is well known to anyone who followed his playing career. Now he gets another crack at them from the dressing room.
For fans, this means a fresh start with an old rivalry at its centre. Test cricket is the five-day format, slow and grinding, and the Ashes is its most famous contest. England want it back.
There was also an update on pace bowler Brydon Carse. Derbyshire Police closed an investigation involving Carse after allegations of an assault last month. He will face no police action but now faces an investigation from the Cricket Regulator.
