England’s new Test coach Stephen Fleming has wasted little time making his intentions clear. The former New Zealand captain says he shares England’s “obsession” with the Ashes and admits there is one obvious target whenever Australia are involved: beating the Aussies.
Fleming was speaking publicly for the first time since being appointed England’s new Test coach in July. His arrival marks the beginning of a new era after Brendon McCullum’s time in charge of the red-ball side came to an end.
And while Fleming has insisted that England will not be tied to one rigid style of cricket, his comments about Australia will certainly grab the attention of Ashes fans.
Stephen Fleming has one big target
The Ashes remain one of the biggest prizes in Test cricket, and Fleming understands the rivalry particularly well.
As a New Zealander, he grew up with Australia as his country’s major cricketing rival. Fleming described New Zealand as Australia’s “little cousin” and explained that there is a similar desire across the Tasman to beat Australia.
That is why he does not believe England are wrong to place so much importance on the Ashes.
“No, because I have an obsession with it as well,” Fleming said, explaining his own feelings about the rivalry.
“We want to beat the Aussies.”
For England supporters, those words will sound very different from a coach trying to downplay the importance of the rivalry.
The timing is also significant.
Australia retained the Ashes during the 2025-26 series, winning 4-1. England did manage a victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but Australia ultimately remained in control of the series. The ECB’s official Ashes record confirms that Australia retained the urn, continuing a run that stretches back through the previous several series.
England’s next opportunity will come on home soil in 2027.
The first Test of the 2027 Ashes is scheduled for 18 June at Trent Bridge, followed by Tests at Lord’s, Edgbaston and the Utilita Bowl.
That gives Fleming considerable time to shape the side before the biggest assignment of his early England career.
Fleming wants England to be adaptable
Perhaps the most interesting part of Fleming’s first major media appearance was not actually about Australia.
It was about how England should play Test cricket.
McCullum’s England became famous for aggressive, attacking cricket under the “Bazball” philosophy. There were spectacular wins, dramatic declarations and a willingness to take risks that often changed the way Test cricket was discussed.
But the approach also faced criticism when England struggled to adapt to difficult situations.
Fleming appears determined to bring a different balance.
Rather than forcing England into a specific brand of cricket, he wants the team to understand the conditions, the match situation and what is required at that particular moment.
“I don’t think so,” Fleming said when asked whether a Test team needs a specific brand or style.
“The greatest thing for a team to do is to be able to play conditions and situations.”
That could become one of the defining differences between Fleming’s England and the side that came before him.
The former New Zealand captain wants England to have a strong basic structure, good planning and discipline, but he does not want to completely remove the flair that has become associated with English cricket.
In simple terms, England may still attack — but the attack will need to have a reason behind it.
From McCullum to Fleming: a different personality
Fleming and McCullum know each other extremely well.
The two former New Zealand internationals are close friends and business partners, while they have also worked together in the Indian Premier League environment.
Fleming offered a revealing description of their personalities.
He joked that he would bet on the favourite, while McCullum would bet on the longest odds possible.
That one sentence probably explains the difference better than any coaching manual could.
McCullum became synonymous with taking risks and backing England to achieve extraordinary things. Fleming, meanwhile, appears more interested in percentages, preparation and making sure the team can respond when circumstances change.
That does not necessarily mean England will become defensive.
Instead, Fleming appears to want a side capable of knowing when to attack and when to absorb pressure.
That could be particularly important in Test cricket, where a single session can completely change the direction of a match.
South Africa will provide the first real test
Before Fleming gets to think seriously about the 2027 Ashes, he has a significant challenge waiting in South Africa.
England’s 2026-27 Test tour begins at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on 17 December, followed by the Boxing Day Test at Centurion and the New Year’s Test at Newlands in Cape Town.
Those matches will give Fleming his first opportunity to put his ideas into practice.
South African conditions can be demanding for any visiting team, particularly for batters facing pace and bounce.
For Fleming, the series should reveal how quickly England can adapt to a new coaching philosophy.
It will also provide clues about what the team could eventually look like ahead of the Ashes.
Discipline is another major focus
Fleming also addressed the issue of standards inside the England dressing room.
His comments come after a difficult period involving off-field incidents and disciplinary issues surrounding members of the England set-up.
Fleming made it clear that talent alone will not be enough.
“We pick on runs and wickets primarily,” he said, while also stressing that players must understand the responsibility that comes with representing England.
His message was straightforward: standards cannot be followed only when convenient.
That philosophy could have implications for players looking to establish themselves in the Test team, particularly as Fleming begins to build his own culture.
The Cricket Regulator is also investigating England fast bowler Brydon Carse following an incident in Derby, despite Derbyshire Police closing their investigation without taking action against the player. That situation remains separate from the England selection process.
Ben Stokes retirement will make Fleming’s job even harder
Fleming will also have to rebuild an England Test team without Ben Stokes.
Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket in June 2026, ending a Test career that included the captaincy and some of England’s most memorable Ashes moments.
His absence means Fleming is not simply replacing a coach.
He is helping build a new Test era.
Joe Root remains one of England’s senior figures, while Harry Brook and several younger players will be expected to take on greater responsibility.
The challenge will be creating a team that retains England’s attacking mentality without becoming dependent on constant risk-taking.
The Ashes countdown has already started
For Fleming, the immediate priority is South Africa.
But there is no escaping the Ashes.
England will host Australia in the 2027 series, with the first Test scheduled at Trent Bridge on 18 June. The ECB has already confirmed that the series will also visit Lord’s, Edgbaston and the Utilita Bowl.
Fleming knows exactly what that rivalry means.
He also knows his own record against Australia as a Test player was not successful — he never won any of his 14 Tests against them.
Now he gets a completely different opportunity.
This time, Fleming will not be walking onto the field with a bat in his hand. He will be standing on the boundary, trying to build an England team capable of challenging Australia over five days and five Tests.
And judging by his first major message, he already knows what the ultimate goal is.
Beat the Aussies.
Whether Fleming can turn that desire into a successful England team will become one of the biggest stories in Test cricket over the next 12 months.
For now, the first chapter begins in South Africa in December.
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