England’s new test coach Stephen Fleming said restoring the team’s identity and standards would be as important as improving results, after a turbulent year for English cricket that brought renewed scrutiny of player behavior and team culture. Fleming was appointed in July following England’s slide in results and a series of off-field incidents that led to Brendon McCullum’s departure from the test role amid accusations of a drinking culture among the players. The latest incident involved pace bowler Brydon Carse, who was handcuffed outside a nightclub following Durham’s County Championship title-winning victory over Derbyshire, shortly after Joe Root had lifted the team’s midnight curfew.
Fleming said work has already begun on shaping the team’s identity after months of questions over the culture surrounding the England setup. That would be my aspiration,” Fleming told reporters in Manchester. There’s been a lot of coverage around that, and I think the way that players represent England and the group is going to be really important to me.
McCullum remains coach of England’s white-ball sides. England begins a three-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
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