Brendon McCullum (L) & Stephen Fleming (Source: AFP Photos)
Two of New Zealand’s greatest-ever cricketers, Brendon McCullum and Stephen Fleming, shared a good amount of time in the dressing room during their cricketing days. It helped them to become close friends gradually over the years.
Now McCullum and Fleming will work side by side, with England's future in cricket at stake. While Fleming has been appointed as England’s Test head coach, replacing McCullum, the latter’s responsibilities at the helm have been shifted solely to white-ball cricket, in ODIs and T20Is.
McCullum Backs England To Thrive Under Fleming
Speaking to Sky Sports during London Spirit vs MI London at The Hundred Men 2026 on Thursday, McCullum opened up on England’s future in Test cricket under Fleming.
There, he expressed his gratitude to the ECB for showing faith in him for four years, and further mentioned Fleming is a little bit like him ‘but better’.
"I had a great time in my four years but now it's going in a different direction, I think Flem will be excellent," McCullum told Sky Sports.
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"He's a little bit like me, but better – that's how I would sum him up. He'll do a great job, and the ECB have done incredibly well to get someone like him to commit to English cricket for the period that he has. It's an outstanding achievement," he added.
When Will Stephen Fleming Era Begin For England?
One of the pioneers of the CSK’s success in the IPL history, Stephen Fleming had worked alongside MS Dhoni for 17 years. Fast forward to 2026, he was removed from the CSK head coach role, along with other responsibilities in Super Kings’ sister franchise.
To grab the opportunity, the ECB contacted him immediately to hand him England’s head coach position to succeed Brendon McCullum, who was appointed for the same role back in May 2022.
Even though Fleming has formally become England’s head coach in Tests, he will not be in charge of the squad during the upcoming three-match Test series at home against Pakistan. Instead, Marcus Trescothick will take over to replace Fleming.
Fleming’s first and major task would be to perform impressively when England travel to South Africa later in 2026. There will be three Tests, starting from December 17, with Johannesburg’s The Wanderers Stadium, Centurion’s SuperSport Park and Cape Town’s Newlands picked as venues.
How England Began Journey Under Brendon McCullum
England had an excellent start under Brendon McCullum in Tests. They won 10 out of his first 12 attempts under him.
No wonder the way England used to play Test cricket under his leadership became the talking point across the cricket world. Later, the approach was known as ‘Bazball’.
However, McCullum failed to keep the momentum going, with Ben Stokes working side by side. In his next 37 matches, England lost 18 out of 37 matches while winning 17.
Also Read: Ben Stokes' Best Replacement In England Set To Join Test Team vs Pakistan
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