Picture by Simon Wilkinson/SWPix.com. New England Test coach Stephen Fleming signs autographs for Yorkshire fans during his time with the county in 2003.
When Stephen Fleming’s appointment as England’s new Test Match head coach was announced last week – alongside that of Joe Root as their captain – that famous saying sprung to mind once more. ‘Strong Yorkshire, strong England’.
Twenty three years on from a mid-season spell as Yorkshire’s overseas player, in 2003, New Zealander Fleming has replaced compatriot Brendon McCullum in what he described as “one of the most prestigious coaching positions in world cricket”.
Fleming arrived at Headingley on a short-term contract to play alongside the Indian batter Yuvraj Singh, and he scored 816 runs across 18 matches in all formats, including five fifties and a century.
That ton was a superb 139 not out opening the batting in a 45-over National League game against Warwickshire at Headingley. Yorkshire, chasing 274, won by seven wickets.
Aged 30 at the time, Fleming was the Kiwi captain and played under the leadership of both Matthew Wood and Anthony McGrath, both men who are currently on Yorkshire’s coaching staff.
McGrath, obviously, as head coach.
It was Fleming’s second taste of county cricket. He represented Middlesex in 2001 and would go on to play three seasons for Nottinghamshire between 2005 and 2007. He captained them to the Championship title in his first season at Trent Bridge, that team including his former Yorkshire team-mate Ryan Sidebottom.
Picture by Ben Duffy/SWPix.com. Stephen Fleming at the crease for New Zealand against England at Headingley in 2004.
Fleming is one of cricket’s most highly-regarded leaders, both as a captain and a coach.
The 53-year-old’s coaching career has been headlined by leading IPL powerhouses Chennai Super Kings to five titles and 10 finals. They also won two Champions League titles. An incredible record to say the least.
He has also led the Southern Brave in The Hundred and Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash in Australia.
Incidentally, Fleming was in charge of CSK when they faced Yorkshire at Durban in the group stage of the 2012 Champions League in South Africa.
Fleming’s departure from Chennai was announced midway through last month, with him announced by the ECB just over a fortnight later.
It means that England’s leadership group has White Rose running through its heart, with Harry Brook also England’s white-ball captain as well as the aforementioned Root as the Test skipper.
Clearly, it hasn’t been the easiest of times for Brook over the last few months, but Fleming has already spoken about looking forward to working with one of the world’s finest batting talents.
Picture by Dan Istitene/Getty Images. Stephen Fleming is relishing the prospect of working with Yorkshire and England star Harry Brook.
“I’m excited to work with Harry,” he said.
“The best players are never finished products, and helping Harry continue to develop his extraordinary talent and his leadership will be an important part of this journey.”
Having tried to advance Yorkshire’s cause with runs a little over two decades ago, he will now aim to get the very best out of two of our greatest ever stars.
Once White Rose always White Rose, hey!
And who would bet against there being more of where Root and Brook came from.
George Hill, Will Luxton, Matthew Revis and James Wharton to name just a few.
We needn’t say more.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Joe Root and Stephen Fleming will form a captain and coach relationship to lead England’s Test team forwards.
“I’m delighted for Rooty,” said McGrath.
“He’s obviously our best player but is very passionate about England. So, I think, there’s no better man for me than Rooty to step in.
“And Flem, obviously played with him.
“I haven’t spoken to him much recently, but I’ve followed his coaching career.
“He was an unbelievable player, captain, really good around the group when we had him, and he’s obviously gone on to do great things. I think it’s probably a very smart move (from England).
“He didn’t captain us, but he kind of had the aura of that leadership.
“It’s been quite a messy period for England, I think everyone knows that. But he’s someone who’s very calm, and I’m sure that once he gets in there, he’ll get the team going in the right direction.”
Picture by Simon Wilkinson/SWPix.com. Stephen Fleming celebrates his only hundred in a Yorkshire shirt, against Warwickshire in a National League game at Headingley in 2003.
Fleming, aged 53, will not take charge of England’s forthcoming Test series against Pakistan, which starts at Headingley on August 19.
Marcus Trescothick will be in interim charge before Fleming heads to England later this summer to prepare for the series in South Africa either side of Christmas.
We have just had Bazball, but what can we expect from Fleming?
McGrath added: “I’m not sure, to be honest.
“Flem’s predominantly coached in the franchise world, and I think he knows Brendon McCullum very well. It’s about working together.
“He’s probably going to be a hybrid of the current style.”
Good luck Stephen. We look forward to seeing you back at Headingley soon.
Picture by Alex Davidson/Getty Images. Stephen Fleming, a former coach of the Southern Brave men in The Hundred.
