Last Updated on 29 minutes ago by Charbel Coorey
It was announced earlier this week that England have turned to another Kiwi in Stephen Fleming as their new men’s Test head coach to take the reins in the post-Bazball era.
After speculation linking names such as Andy Flower, Justin Langer and Jonathan Trott, the 53-year-old was appointed on a four-year contract as Brendon McCullum’s successor with Joe Root reinstated as captain.
Fleming will begin his duties this winter with a tour to South Africa ahead of next year’s home Ashes series, with Marcus Trescothick taking interim charge against Pakistan beginning on August 19.
A popular appointment given his leadership credentials as a player, though his pedigree and tactical nous as a coach has been entirely formed in the white-ball arena with franchise cricket.
Playing career
1994 – Test debut for New Zealand against India in Hamilton, earning player-of-the-match after top-scoring in the second innings with 92 – he made his ODI debut two days later against the same opponents and scored 90.
1997 – Registered his maiden Test century against England in Auckland and ended the series as New Zealand’s youngest Test captain at the age of 23.
2000 – Led New Zealand to their first ICC trophy after beating India in the final of the ICC Knockout Trophy (later renamed ICC Champions Trophy).
2001 – Joined Middlesex for his first stint in English county cricket where he averaged 51.95.
2003 – Made his career-best Test score of 274 not out against Sri Lanka – his first of three Test double-centuries – and also his highest ODI score of 134* off 132 balls in victory over co-hosts South Africa in the World Cup.
2004 – Named New Zealand’s cricketer of the year, whilst also becoming his country’s most capped player and leading Test run-scorer.
2005 – After a previous spell with Yorkshire, Fleming signed for Nottinghamshire and was appointed captain, going on to average above 60 as Notts won the County Championship title for the first time since 1987.
2007 – Resigned as ODI captain in the aftermath of their semi-final defeat at the World Cup and would also be replaced as Test captain by Daniel Vettori a few months later – his 303 all-format matches as captain has only been eclipsed by MS Dhoni (332) and Ricky Ponting (324).
2008 – Retired from international cricket after England’s Test tour, making 66 in his final innings at Napier to end his career on 7,172 runs at 40.06 – Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor the only two Kiwi players since to surpass that tally.
Coaching career
2009 – Following one season as a player in the inaugural year of the Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings, Fleming was appointed as head coach of the franchise.
2010 – CSK won their first IPL title and also triumphed in the second edition of the Champions League Twenty20.
2011 – CSK secured back-to-back IPL crowns.
2014 – CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders in an all-IPL final to win the sixth and final iteration of the Champions League Twenty20.
2015 – Appointed head coach of Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, reaching the final in the first and final season of his four-year spell.
2018 – After guiding Rising Pune Supergiant to a final in their second season, Fleming returned to CSK after their IPL suspension was lifted and led them to a third title.
2023 – CSK won their fifth IPL title in their tenth final appearance to become the joint-most successful franchise in the history of the competition, whilst Fleming also took charge of Super Kings franchises Joburg and Texas in the inaugural seasons of the SA20 and Major League Cricket respectively – his new sides regularly reached the play-off stages over the next four years but never made a final.
2024 – In his second year in charge of Southern Brave in The Hundred, they went one better from their defeat in the Eliminator but were beaten by Oval Invincibles in the final.
2026 – Fleming departed the Super Kings franchise following two consecutive disappointing IPL campaigns, bringing an end to an 18-year association, and was announced as England Test head coach just over two weeks later.
