Fleming: England's coach should primarily be English
New Zealander Stephen Fleming, England's new men's Test cricket head coach, believes a national team should mainly be coached by someone from that country. He says developing English coaches will be a priority.
Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain appointed England men's Test cricket head coach in July, has said a national team should primarily be coached by a representative of that nation. Test cricket is the sport's longest international format. Fleming will take charge of his first series in South Africa in December, a three-match contest.
Overseas coaches in charge
Since 1999, only two Englishmen, Peter Moores (twice) and Chris Silverwood, have led the Test side, while Ashley Giles briefly coached the white-ball team. In the same period, the Zimbabweans Duncan Fletcher and Andy Flower and the Australian Trevor Bayliss have also held the job. Fleming succeeded his fellow New Zealander Brendon McCullum, who stays on as white-ball coach. England's selector, Marcus North, is Australian too.
Support staff mostly homegrown
Fleming's team includes former England opener Marcus Trescothick, who was interim Test coach earlier this year, ex-wicketkeeper James Foster and former spinner Richard Dawson. Jonathan Trott is about to start a spell in charge of England Lions. Trott and Dawson were both candidates for the head job.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Fleming said helping to develop English coaches would be a priority. He plans to bring in county coaches and former players at times. Unlike McCullum, who was criticised for spending little time around the county game, Fleming said he will watch county cricket next summer before the home Ashes series.
The spin question
England picked no specialist spinner in any of the three Tests against Pakistan. Last week Shoaib Bashir was named the only specialist red-ball spinner among fully centrally contracted players. Fleming said the Derbyshire man represents "continuity", but added that many spinners are waiting for a chance, particularly on the two-Test tour of Bangladesh in February.
