‘I can’t wait for the Ashes’: new England Test coach Fleming targets No 1 spot

New Zealander plans to add ‘a bit of cricket sense in key moments’ to Bazball template and make England the world’s best Test team

“Flemball? That’s a medical condition.” Stephen Fleming’s first press conference as England Test coach was exactly what you would expect from a man appointed to bring calm to a team that had started to career off course.

While the Manchester rain did its worst outside, Fleming was the handsome sea captain on top of his ship, even if that ship had to float without him during the Test series against Pakistan. England won 3-0 while Fleming saw to family and commercial commitments. But the wait has given him thinking time to work out what he wants to achieve.