Michael Vaughan, a former England captain, has suggested that Joe Root's second stint as England's Test captain could be precisely what the batter needs to reignite his form. Root, 35, has been reappointed to the captaincy for the upcoming Test series.
Vaughan commented on the recent appointment of Stephen Fleming as England's new Test coach, a move he described as selecting a "very experienced" option. Fleming joins England after a nine-year tenure coaching the Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings. Former England Test coach Andy Flower was initially considered for the role but withdrew from the process.
Fleming's experience as a player and coach in the modern game was highlighted by Vaughan. "He was a very, very good captain back in the day, a very good tactician, renowned for being a really good man-manager," Vaughan said of Fleming. He also noted the importance of Fleming's close relationship with head white-ball coach Brendon McCullum, suggesting it would prevent potential friction.
Fleming, who retired as a player in 2009, has an extensive record in Test cricket, having played 111 matches for New Zealand and scored 7,172 runs at an average of 40.06. Vaughan acknowledged that Fleming will need to adapt England's style of play.
"The style of play I want to see is England winning," Vaughan stated. He emphasized that England needs to prioritize winning games and trophies, regardless of the specific style employed on any given day. Vaughan also pointed to a need for technical coaching in batting, specifically addressing the players' ability to play a controlled forward defense against challenging deliveries. "Technique wins Test match cricket and the technical side of England's players and batting has been found wanting," he added. Vaughan suggested that alongside a strong leader, changes in the backroom staff might be necessary to ensure players receive adequate technical coaching.