Stephen Fleming, newly appointed coach of the England cricket team, expressed his ambition to lead the team to victory against Australia during the upcoming Ashes series in 2024. Speaking at a press conference for the first time since taking over from Brendon McCullum in July, Fleming emphasized his personal and cultural affinity with the rivalry between New Zealand and Australia, which he sees as analogous to England's intense desire to defeat Australia. He stressed the importance of adapting to different playing conditions and maintaining discipline while embracing flair, aiming to revitalize England’s approach to Test cricket ahead of their tour of South Africa in December.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
- Published
New Test coach Stephen Fleming said he shared English cricket's "obsession" with the Ashes and arrives with the goal to "beat the Aussies".
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he → publish → Aussies
Fleming was speaking to the media for the first time since being appointed in July and ahead of taking charge for the tour of South Africa in December.
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Fleming → speak → December
The next Ashes series is in the UK next summer, when England will look to defeat the Australians for the first time since 2015 and avenge a dismal 4-1 defeat down under last winter.
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England → look → defeat
Asked if England are too obsessed with beating Australia, Fleming told BBC Sport: "No, because I have an obsession with it as well.
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I → ask → it
New Zealand has an obsession with it, we love it.
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we → have → it
We want to beat the Aussies.
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We → want → Aussies
We're heavily linked to England performances.
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We → link → performances
We have a deep desire to beat Australia in everything, as the little cousin.
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We → have → cousin
We are linked, and
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We → link → ?
"You don't think you're ever going to get that opportunity.
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you → think → opportunity
To have that opportunity and be part of it, I can't wait.
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I → have → it
"I want to be my best self and have a team that represents itself in the best possible way.
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that → want → way
I've got a vision of that and it's aspirational.
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it → get → that
Fleming, the former New Zealand captain, did not taste victory in any of the 14 Tests he played against Australia.
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he → taste → Australia
He succeeds his former team-mate McCullum, who was sacked as Test coach earlier this summer, but remains as boss of the white-ball team.
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who → succeed → team
England won only two of McCullum's final 10 Tests in charge, including the hammering in Australia.
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England → win → Australia
Part of the criticism of England under McCullum and former captain Ben Stokes was their inability to adapt to the changing situations of Test cricket, as well as a lack of attention to detail.
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Part → adapt → detail
He described the difference between the two as being: "I'll bet on the favourite and he'll bet on the longest odds possible."
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he → describe → odds
On whether a Test team should have a brand or style, Fleming said: "I don't think so.
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I → say → brand
The greatest thing for a team to do is to be able to play conditions and situations.
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team → do → conditions
I'd love people to say we are well-planned, there's a discipline and a really strong basic structure to what we're doing, but there's also a bit of flair."
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we → love → flair
The final months of McCullum's reign were dogged by late-night drinking controversies, which continued after England changed the Test coach.
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England → dog → coach
On Friday, Derbyshire Police announced they had closed an investigation involving England pace bowler Brydon Carse following allegations of an assault last month.
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they → announce → assault
Though Carse will face no action from the police, he now faces an investigation from the Cricket Regulator.
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he → face → Regulator
He remains available for England selection, albeit has not been part of a squad in any format since the Derby incident.
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He → remain → incident
"There are standards," said Fleming.
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Fleming → be → ?
"We pick on runs and wickets primarily, but I think it's foolish not to also say there are standards that need to be set.
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that → pick → runs
"You need to behave in accordance with your position.
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You → need → position
We're in a very privileged position, and it's understanding that privilege and what goes along with it.
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what → understand → it
You can't be when it suits you to do the right things, then when you don't want it to suit you, not.
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it → suit → you
"You've got to live it every day.
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You → get → it
If we can create something when you want to live it every day and better, then that's really powerful."
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that → create → it
Earlier in the week he visited a number of counties and met Stokes during Durham's draw against Worcestershire.
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he → visit → Worcestershire
Stokes abruptly retired from international cricket in July and has a previous relationship with Fleming from their time together with Chennai Super Kings at the Indian Premier League.
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Stokes → retire → League
But Fleming said he had too much "respect" for Stokes' decision to attempt to coax him out of retirement.
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he → say → retirement
"He was in a great space, really happy, enjoying his time with Durham
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He → enjoy → Durham
," said Fleming.
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Fleming → say → ?
"He's got a good winter planned with the family and is very much at peace with his decision.
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He → get → decision
When a player makes that decision to retire, I respect that decision 100%.
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I → make → decision
"To try to turn that around and question that is wrong.
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try → try → that
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
