England affirm Joe Root to return as Take a look at captain, whereas Stephen Fleming replaces Brendan McCullum as coach.
Printed On 30 Jul 2026
England named Joe Root as Take a look at captain and appointed former New Zealand batter Stephen Fleming as head coach following the departures of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
Root, England’s all-time main run scorer in Exams, captained the aspect in a file 64 matches between 2017 and 2022, profitable 27 of them.
The 35-year-old returns to the function after Stokes retired from worldwide cricket final month and can lead England within the three-Take a look at house collection towards Pakistan beginning on August 19.
“It’s a nice honour and privilege to be requested to be England males’s check captain once more,” Root mentioned in a press release.
“The Take a look at captaincy is a troublesome however vastly rewarding job and, after having fun with a quick style of it once more working with Brendon McCullum final month, I’m excited to steer this subsequent era of gamers ahead.”
“The chance to try this alongside Stephen can be an enormous motivator.
“He has proved over an extended time period that he’s an distinctive chief with an ideal information of the sport, and I’m wanting ahead to working with him and serving to to construct a profitable surroundings.”
Root led England within the second Take a look at towards New Zealand at The Oval this summer time in Stokes’ absence.
Fleming takes cost of an England aspect seeking to rebuild after poor outcomes and a collection of off-field incidents that led to McCullum’s dismissal.
New Zealander McCullum stays coach of England’s white-ball groups.
Fleming had been head coach of Chennai Tremendous Kings within the Indian Premier League previous to the England job.
“I’m extremely excited to be becoming a member of England as Take a look at Coach. It’s one of the prestigious teaching positions in world cricket and I’m honoured to be appointed,” 53-year-old Fleming mentioned in a press release.
“I’m notably wanting ahead to working with Joe Root as captain – a generational expertise who has achieved a lot already.
“There may be nonetheless lots extra to come back from him, and I’m excited to help him so he can take pleasure in and thrive within the function in what’s a distinct context to his first stint.”
Fleming, who performed 111 Exams for New Zealand and captained the staff, will begin as coach after the check collection towards Pakistan, with assistant coach Marcus Trescothick main the aspect on an interim foundation till then.
