England are closing in on Stephen Fleming as their new Test coach following the axing of his fellow New Zealander Brendon McCullum.
Fleming, 53, is viewed as one of cricket’s great strategists, having played 111 Tests for his country, becoming their most successful captain with 28 wins.
Since quitting international cricket in 2008, he has enjoyed a successful coaching career, predominantly with Chennai Super Kings, claiming five Indian Premier League titles before quitting days after McCullum was removed from his position.
Defeat to New Zealand at Trent Bridge in what was Ben Stokes’ final international appearance meant England had not won a series for more than 12 months, forcing a re-think within an ECB hierarchy that resisted change following the deflating 4-1 Ashes defeat last winter.
The ECB declined to comment when contacted on Wednesday, but Daily Mail Sport understands he edged out Englishmen Richard Dawson and Jonathan Trott in the selection process.
One of Fleming’s first tasks will be to determine who succeeds Stokes as England captain.
New Zealander Stephen Fleming is set to become the new England Men’s Test head coach
Fleming has worked as a coach since 2009, but his only roles have come in franchise cricket, including 14 years over two spells at Chennai Super Kings
England are still looking for a new captain after Ben Stokes’ retirement earlier this summer
Joe Root stepped in when Stokes was suspended for The Oval Test last month and was being lined up to work alongside McCullum until the end of next year’s Ashes.
That particular succession plan was put into place in order not to over-burden Root’s fellow Yorkshireman Harry Brook.
However, Brook revealed it would be a ‘privilege’ to lead England in all three formats, having made a success of turning around results in his 15-month captaincy of the limited-overs teams.
