New England Test head coach Stephen Fleming has spoken of his desire to return the team to the top of the world rankings, adding that there is "work to be done" on the side's disciplinary issues that have dominated headlines this summer. In June, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were suspended from the second Test of the 2-1 series loss to New Zealand due to a nightclub incident that occurred in the wake of their opening win at Lord's. Last month, Brydon Carse was handcuffed outside a nightclub in Derby and missed the second and third Tests of England's series whitewash of Pakistan, prompting Test captain Joe Root to describe himself as "hacked off" by the growing list of alcohol-related incidents involving England players.
Carse did not face any charges after police closed their investigation. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "It's disappointing," Fleming said. "The way that players represent England and the group is going to be really important to me." He added: "I watched Joe in the press conference, and when he voices his displeasure at the behaviour, I think that said it all.
"If you want a great example of how to behave as an international cricketer, Joe Root is it. "There's work to be done, and that comes back to making sure we're tying into something a bit bigger than oneself." As well as having "a lot of contact" with Root since accepting the Test job on July 30 and throughout the Pakistan series - which Fleming was not yet in post for, due to family and commercial commitments - the new coach said he had also been in touch with Stokes, who retired from international cricket in June. Amid suggestions of a possible return for the home Ashes series next summer, Fleming said of the 35-year-old: "He's really happy and seemed to be really at peace with his decision.
"My view is that when a player decides to retire, it's a big decision, and I have the utmost respect for that decision." Fleming admitted he is already excited about coaching England in next summer's Ashes, calling it "an absolute highlight", while he also talked up the potential of the team he is about to take over. "I would love to be in charge of the number one Test team in the world. That would be my aspiration," Fleming said.
"My honest appraisal is it's a great time to be the head coach. I think it's a real opportunity with the players that are coming through. "The fast bowlers as an example, I loved watching them operate in the [Pakistan] Test series recently.
"Also, the introduction of [Jordan] Cox and [Dan] Lawrence was nice, when you've got someone like [Jacob] Bethell [to come back]. "There's talent there competing for places, and that's always the barometer. If you're leaving very good players out, then you're going to be in a healthy situation." Fleming added on the World Test Championship, in which England sit sixth in the 2025-2027 cycle - having failed to reach the final of any of the previous three editions: "I think England could do much better in that.
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