Buried deep within the press release announcing the latest round of England central contracts was a potentially significant development for the future of the game in this country – the announcement of Test coach Stephen Fleming’s backroom team.
Alongside the appointment of South African Eric Simons, a long-time associate of Fleming on the franchise circuit, were three English coaches who will serve as assistants to the New Zealander: Marcus Trescothick, Richard Dawson and James Foster.
That trio, alongside Jonathan Trott, who was appointed Lions coach this winter, represent the future of English coaching.
In a year when England made yet another overseas appointment to the Test role, their inclusion suggests the powers that be are finally planning for the future.
As the world’s second-richest and one of its best-resourced cricketing nations, behind only India, it is a damning indictment of the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that there have been only two English head coaches of the Test team since the turn of the century.
The former New Zealand captain starts his new job in South Africa this winter (Photo: Getty)Peter Moores, who oversaw two disappointing spells in charge between 2007-09 and 2014-15, was one.
Chris Silverwood, the best-qualified county coach when appointed in 2019, was the other.
His tenure ended in 2022 after he had been handed the almost impossible task of guiding England through a relentless schedule during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Aside from those two, Ashley Giles, who coached the white-ball teams from 2012 to 2014, is the only other Englishman to have led the national side.
That point was underlined when Fleming was appointed Test coach last summer, succeeding another New Zealander, Brendon McCullum.
Fleming will not officially begin the role until England’s tour of South Africa starts in December.
But his decision to embrace a predominantly English backroom team suggests a willingness to leave something sustainable behind when he eventually departs.
Jonathan Trott has emerged as a potential successor with his Lions role (Photo: Getty)It should also leave England in a stronger position to promote from within when the time comes.
Trescothick, a long-time assistant to McCullum across all formats, brings considerable experience as both a player and coach.
He also impressed when taking interim charge of the Test team during the 3-0 series victory over Pakistan at the end of last summer.
Dawson was one of the contenders for the top job last summer and clearly impressed the ECB during the interview process.
He has since left Glamorgan, whom he led to County Championship promotion in 2025 before successfully keeping them in the top flight last season.
He has also taken on a wider role at the ECB as elite national spin bowling lead, alongside his duties as an assistant to Fleming.
England central contracts update 2026-27
Two-year deals
Joe Root Harry Brook Jofra Archer Gus Atkinson Sonny Baker Jacob Bethell Jordan Cox Henry Crocombe Sam Curran Will Jacks Josh TongueOne-year deals
Rehan Ahmed Tom Banton Shoaib Bashir Jos Buttler Brydon Carse Sam Cook Liam Dawson Ben Duckett Emilio Gay Matthew Fisher Dan Lawrence Saqib Mahmood Jamie Overton Ollie Pope Matthew Potts Adil Rashid Ollie Robinson Phil Salt Jamie SmithIt is also notable that Michael Yardy, another emerging English coach, has been appointed elite national batting lead.
Foster, meanwhile, has established himself as a successful coach on the global franchise circuit since retiring from playing in 2018. It was there that he first got to know Fleming.
The former Essex and England wicketkeeper has also impressed in coaching consultancy roles with New Zealand and England, including during the 2021-22 Ashes tour.
His appointment is a progressive move and a credit to the ECB and managing director of cricket Rob Key that one of England’s sharpest coaching minds is now part of the national set-up.
With Trott, who did outstanding work during four years as Afghanistan coach, also working with the Lions, a group of the country’s most promising coaching talents is now in place to develop within the national structure.
The hope is that one of them might eventually take on the top job.
“I don’t think that process is done because I think there’s a number of coaches in our game that would have an opportunity in the future to coach England,” Key said.
“But these are the guys we think they’ve been in our set-up a little bit, they’ve come through the system. But I feel along with Jonathan Trott as well doing the Lions, we’ve got the best of what this country has to offer so far and up and coming coaches as well.
“So, it’d be great experience for them. There’s part of a succession plan in there that may or may not happen because I think you never know what happens in these jobs.
“But I certainly think there’s a number of coaches that have the potential not only to learn, but go and do the job in the future. Richard Dawson would be near the top of that list.”
Key talking points
Carse’s future is up in the air
Brydon Carse is subject to an ongoing investigation by the cricket regulator (Photo: Getty)Brydon Carse was charged with breaching ECB professional conduct regulations earlier this month, specifically bringing the game into disrepute, and faces a hearing with the Cricket Discipline Commission in the coming weeks over a night out in Derby in August.
Carse was cleared of wrongdoing by police and remains available for England selection.
He was named on the contract list after signing a two-year deal last year, although it is unclear whether he will see out the final year.
Key said: “I don’t see at the moment anything to suggest that he won’t continue on that contract, but we’ll find out more as it goes on.
“Once all of this is dealt with, we’ll decide if he can play international cricket again.”
Cox and Crocombe are the big winners
Henry Crocombe has been rewarded for his fine form in the County Championship (Photo: Getty)Wicketkeeper-batter Jordan Cox and seamer Henry Crocombe have secured two-year deals, having never previously held England contracts.
Crocombe’s inclusion suggests he is ahead of Sam Cook, the Essex seamer who has also earned his first contract, in the pecking order for Test places this winter.
Batter Tom Banton, Dan Lawrence, Test opener Emilio Gay and bowler Matthew Fisher have also secured their first deals.
Ollie Robinson, the standout bowler last summer, returns to the list for the first time since 2023 after signing a one-year contract.
Crawley is the biggest loser
Zak Crawley’s expiring deal has not been extended after a run of low scores (Photo: Getty)Zak Crawley has been dropped from the list after losing his place following last winter’s Ashes.
Retired duo Ben Stokes and Mark Wood are also no longer contracted.
It is notable that Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith, both integral members of the Test team, have been handed only one-year deals.
But two other discards remain
England have renewed Shoaib Bashir’s contract despite dropping out of the starting XI (Photo: Getty)Spinner Shoaib Bashir, who has played just two Tests in 15 months, and No 3 batter Ollie Pope, dropped after the Ashes, have both been retained on one-year contracts.
Their inclusion suggests neither player’s England career is over.
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