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'Take the good stuff': Jason Gillespie reveals what Stephen Fleming can learn from the McCullum-Stokes era originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Jason Gillespie urges new England Test coach Stephen Fleming to retain positives from the Brendon McCullum-Ben Stokes era.
- Joe Root returns as captain after Stokes' retirement.
- Fleming misses Pakistan series; Marcus Trescothick takes charge as interim coach.
Jason Gillespie backs Fleming to build on McCullum-Stokes legacy
Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie has advised Stephen Fleming to preserve what worked well during the Brendon McCullum-Ben Stokes era while working on the areas that fell short.
Fleming, who previously captained New Zealand's national side, has now taken on his first-ever role as a national team's head coach, stepping into England's Test setup alongside Joe Root's return as captain.
Despite lacking prior experience leading an international side, the 53-year-old brings substantial coaching credentials, having guided Chennai Super Kings to a record five Indian Premier League titles across a 17-year tenure with the franchise.
His predecessor, McCullum, was dismissed from the Test coaching role in July following a prolonged stretch of disappointing results combined with several off-field controversies, though he continues to oversee England's white-ball setups.
MORE: Brendon McCullum says he 'completely' trusts Stephen Fleming as England Test coach
McCullum's tenure began strongly, with England winning 10 of his first 12 Tests in charge, but results tapered off significantly thereafter, with the side losing 18 and winning just 17 of their subsequent 37 Test matches.
The final trigger behind McCullum's removal came after a heavy 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, followed by a 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand. Stokes also announced his retirement from international cricket mid-match during the third Test.
Speaking to talkSPORT about what Fleming should carry forward from the previous coaching setup, Gillespie stressed the importance of retaining the positive elements established during the McCullum-Stokes period while refining certain shortcomings.
"I think it's important that England take the good stuff from the McCullum era, McCullum-Stokes era, good stuff, and just refine it a little bit," he opined.
"Where I think there's been some criticism is, yeah, not much attention to detail as there should have been. Just all sort of little things, you know, preparation for the Ashes, booking consistency. I think Stephen Fleming will thrive."
Fleming won't be immediately available for England's upcoming Test series against Pakistan, which begins on August 19, with assistant coach Marcus Trescothick stepping in as interim head coach for that assignment. Fleming plans to spend time with family in New Zealand before travelling to the UK later this summer to begin preparing for England's Test tour of South Africa in December.
MORE: 'I don’t drink around cricket': England star opens up on alcohol consumption
Gillespie praises England Test skipper Root
Root, now 35, previously held the England Test captaincy between 2017 and 2022, a period during which he led the side to a record 27 Test victories across 65 matches. He has now been reinstated as captain following Stokes' unexpected retirement announcement.
Talking about the new Test captain, Gillespie shared an anecdote from his formative years and added: "I remember I was throwing balls in the indoor center to Joe Root, young Joe Root, and he came up to me during the session, and he just... this is why Joe has been such a good player, he always wanted brutally honest feedback, no nonsense, no spin.
"And he actually said those exact words to me. He said, 'Dizzy, I need you to tell me what I need to hear, not what you think I want to hear.' And that really stuck with me."
MORE: England national selector reveals why Root got Test captaincy over Brook
Why Fleming's methodical style suits England's next chapter
Gillespie's advice is spot on given how differently Fleming and McCullum approach the game. Where McCullum built his reputation on aggressive, instinct-driven captaincy and a fearless batting philosophy, often dubbed "Bazball," Fleming has consistently been associated with calm, calculated decision-making throughout his coaching career at Chennai Super Kings.
That contrast could actually work in England's favour rather than against it. Bazball's attacking philosophy clearly boosted England's playing style and delivered genuine results early on, but the lack of tactical discipline in crucial moments, particularly evident during the Ashes collapse, suggests the approach needed structural reinforcement rather than a complete overhaul.
Fleming has shown that he can remain pragmatic, something CSK demonstrated repeatedly during their title-winning campaigns, and act as the situation demands. This positions him well to retain England's attacking identity while addressing the tactical inconsistencies that ultimately cost McCullum his job.
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