Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Panesar slams ECB's Fleming appointment, backs Vaughan for coach role
Cricket is a sport where two teams play with a bat and a ball.
England's Test team plays the longest kind of cricket matches, which can last for several days.
Stephen Fleming was just chosen to be England's new Test coach.
He used to coach a very successful team in India called the Chennai Super Kings for 18 years.
A former England player named Monty Panesar thinks another coach, Michael Vaughan, would have been a better choice.
Panesar also says Fleming was helped a lot by a star player named MS Dhoni, who is no longer as active in his league.
England's old captain Ben Stokes retired, so Joe Root is the captain again.
England used to play a very attacking style called 'Bazball' that was fun to watch but did not always help them win.
Now England wants to balance that exciting style with more traditional cricket so they can win more matches.
England's next Test series is against Pakistan in August.
Stephen Fleming was appointed England's new Test head coach after 18 years with IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings.
Former England spinner Monty Panesar said the ECB should have appointed 2005 Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan instead.
Panesar argued MS Dhoni made Fleming's coaching record great, and Dhoni is no longer as active in the IPL.
Joe Root was reinstated as England Test captain after Ben Stokes announced his shock retirement.
England will have two Kiwi coaches — Fleming for red-ball cricket and Brendon McCullum for white-ball — ahead of the Pakistan series in August.
- Who
- Stephen Fleming (new Test head coach), Monty Panesar (critic), Joe Root (reinstated captain), Ben Stokes (retired captain) and Michael Vaughan (Panesar's preferred candidate).
- What
- The ECB appointed Stephen Fleming as England's Test head coach after sacking Brendon McCullum, reopening debate over the aggressive 'Bazball' approach.
- When
- After England's series loss to New Zealand that ended on June 29, 2026, ahead of the Pakistan Test series in August 2026.
- Where
- England, including Test venues Trent Bridge in Nottingham and Lord's in London.
- Why
- The ECB is rebuilding England's red-ball team following defeat to New Zealand and Ben Stokes' retirement.
Prioritising Traditional Test Cricket
Preserving Bazball's Aggression
England's playing style
Prioritising Traditional Test Cricket
England should return to a more conservative, traditional Test style — around six batters, four bowlers and a keeper — with winning as the priority.
Preserving Bazball's Aggression
Bazball made cricket entertaining and watchable with a worldwide following; England should still play aggressive cricket when conditions suit, balancing entertainment with winning.
Selection of the Test head coach
Prioritising Traditional Test Cricket
The ECB rushed into appointing Stephen Fleming, who has no experience coaching a national team or as a red-ball coach.
Preserving Bazball's Aggression
Michael Vaughan, who won the Ashes in 2005 and has strong man-management skills, should have been appointed for the man-management role.
Splitting players between red and white-ball teams
Prioritising Traditional Test Cricket
Fleming may want his best players for red-ball cricket and not make them available for white-ball cricket.
Preserving Bazball's Aggression
McCullum, who looks up to Fleming, would probably agree with him — accommodating Fleming for the Ashes and reversing for the October World Cup.
- New Test head coach
- Stephen Fleming
- Previous role
- Chennai Super Kings head coach for 18 years
- Reinstated Test captain
- Joe Root
- Departed captain
- Ben Stokes
- Test coach replaced
- Brendon McCullum sacked
- Next Test series
- vs Pakistan, August 2026
- Recent result
- Series loss to New Zealand; third Test at Trent Bridge, June 29, 2026
- Upcoming events
- Ashes in England next year; 50-over World Cup in South Africa in October
