Fleming appointed England Test boss, brings CSK assistants

Stephen Fleming has been named England’s new Test head coach and will bring two of his former Chennai Super Kings assistants to the England set‑up. Fleming left the IPL franchise after a 17‑year spell to focus fully on the England Test side, beginning with the South Africa tour later this year. He has hired former CSK fast‑bowling coach Eric Simons and former CSK fielding coach James Foster as part of his England staff. The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed Simons and Foster on Monday when it announced the new central contracts. Simons, a South African who worked with Gary Kirsten’s India team that won the 2011 World Cup, later coached the Delhi Capitals before spending eight years as CSK’s bowling coach. Alongside Simons and Foster, England will also be supported by spin‑bowling coach Richard Dawson and former England opener Marcus Trescothick. Fleming initially approached former Australian batsman Mike Hussey for a batting‑coach role, but Hussey turned it down. The Chennai Super Kings have told Hussey he will not be retained under the incoming CSK head coach Zaheer Khan, who can now select his own team. A former overseas CSK player is being considered for the vacant batting‑coach slot, with a decision expected after Zaheer visits Chennai. The white‑ball side will remain separate, with Brendon McCullum leading the ODI/T20I team and supported by Kevin Pietersen, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel and Sarah Taylor. ## Context England’s decision to keep the Test and limited‑overs coaching groups apart follows a trend of specialised staff for each format, aimed at improving performance in both arenas.