Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain, is expected to be appointed as England's next men's Test cricket coach, according to the BBC and the Telegraph, which first reported him as the leading candidate.

The 53-year-old's arrival would fill the vacancy left by Brendon McCullum, who was sacked as Test head coach on 13 July 2026 after four years in charge. McCullum apologised for England's Test results under his leadership following the dismissal but remains in his other role overseeing the white-ball sides — the shorter limited-overs formats (BBC Sport).

Fleming and McCullum are former international team-mates, having played together for New Zealand. Now one is in line to succeed the other in one of the most scrutinised jobs in world cricket.

England are currently without both a Test head coach and a Test captain. Ben Stokes has retired from international cricket, leaving the leadership position vacant alongside the coaching post. If appointed, Fleming will have a say alongside Rob Key, England's director of men's cricket, and Marcus North, the national selector, in choosing Stokes' successor as captain (BBC Sport).

Fleming's move to England follows his departure from the Indian Premier League side Chennai Super Kings, where he had been a long-serving coach, confirmed earlier in July (BBC Sport). The IPL is cricket's biggest franchise tournament — a high-pressure, multi-week league where teams play a condensed format of the game. Fleming built a strong reputation there across many seasons.

Other names had been circulating. Jonathan Trott, Richard Dawson and Tom Moody were all linked to the post in the days after McCullum's departure (BBC Sport). Andy Flower, a former England coach who has since built an extensive franchise career, ruled himself out of the running (BBC Sport). Fleming emerged as the clear frontrunner.

England want a new Test coach in place before their next series, against Pakistan (BBC Sport). Test cricket is the longest and oldest format of the international game, played over up to five days, and remains the format England's hierarchy treats as the pinnacle of the sport.

For fans, the appeal is obvious. Fleming brings a sharp tactical brain forged across captaincy of New Zealand and years of franchise success. He walks into a dressing room missing its most influential player and its previous coach — two men who together reshaped how England approached Test cricket. The next few weeks will tell whether his appointment is confirmed and who he, Key and North pick to lead the side out against Pakistan.