Chris Woakes has backed Stephen Fleming’s appointment as England’s Test coach, calling him one of the most respected figures in world cricket and backing the split coaching arrangement with Brendon McCullum.
Woakes, who retired from international cricket in September 2025 after 217 appearances across formats, shared his view on Fleming’s appointment in a YouTube interview.
“I’ve come across Steven a few times. He’s very well respected around the circuit, both as a player back in the day and then more recently as a coach. He’s won IPLs and he’s got a hell of a lot of respect from a lot of players around the world. Him and Baz McCullum are kind of friends and the fact that they’re kind of sharing the role, I think that could work well from a selection point of view.”
Chris Woakes, YouTube interview, August 2026
Fleming was appointed England’s Test head coach on July 30 after McCullum was removed from the red-ball role following a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and a 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand. McCullum remains in charge of England’s white-ball teams.
Woakes Believes McCullum Wants to Put Things Right
Woakes also addressed McCullum’s position directly. Rather than viewing the situation as a demotion, Woakes read it as a second opportunity for McCullum to fix what went wrong during his time in charge of all formats.
“I actually genuinely think he’s excited for it. He’s obviously taken it on. Not many people get the opportunity to come back and do it again when they’ve experienced it all. There’ll be things that he probably wished he could have changed during his time. And now I suppose he’s got an opportunity to put a few things right.”
Chris Woakes, YouTube interview, August 2026
McCullum won 26 of 46 Tests as England coach but lost seven of his last nine matches in charge. Off-field incidents during the Ashes and the New Zealand series added to the pressure on his position.
Insider Read:
Woakes chose his words carefully when he said McCullum probably wished he could have changed things during his time. That is not a generic observation. Players who have been inside that dressing room know exactly what went sideways. The Bazball approach started as fearless cricket and turned into careless batting in conditions that demanded discipline. McCullum’s methods worked brilliantly in home conditions against teams adjusting to England’s aggression, but the approach did not adapt when opponents figured it out. Woakes was part of the setup long enough to see the shift. When he says McCullum now has a chance to “put a few things right,” he is pointing at the tactical inflexibility and the off-field distractions that cost England their biggest series. A white-ball only role strips away the red-ball pressure that exposed those weaknesses. McCullum gets to coach attacking cricket in the format where attacking cricket is the default, not a gamble.
Fleming’s lack of red-ball international coaching experience has been noted, but Woakes’ point about his reputation “around the circuit” matters more than a coaching CV in this context. Fleming built his name across 18 years at CSK, five IPL titles, and coaching stints in The Hundred. Players from every Test nation have worked under him or alongside him in franchise cricket. That network of respect is what Woakes is referring to when he says Fleming has “a hell of a lot of respect from a lot of players around the world.” Fleming does not walk into the England dressing room as a stranger. He walks in as someone most international cricketers already trust.
The fact that Fleming and McCullum are close friends and former New Zealand teammates is the detail Woakes flagged as a potential advantage for selection. England’s split coaching setups have historically created tension over player management. When the Test coach and white-ball coach do not communicate naturally, players get caught in the middle. Fleming and McCullum talk daily, according to McCullum’s own public comments. That eliminates the formal bureaucracy that has caused problems in previous England setups.
Fleming will not be in charge for the upcoming three-Test series against Pakistan starting August 19, with Marcus Trescothick serving as interim coach. Fleming is spending time with his family in New Zealand after leaving CSK and will arrive in the UK later this summer ahead of the South Africa Test tour in December.
Sources:
Chris Woakes, YouTube interview, August 2026
Also Read:
- McCullum Backs Fleming as CSK Coach Connection Strengthens England Setup
- Fleming Named England Test Coach With Root Returning as Captain
- Fleming and Hussey Join England’s New Coaching Staff
- McDonald on Stokes, Ashes Return, and Fleming
- Broad on ECB’s Test Coach Succession Plan
- Harmison Calls McCullum the Elephant in the Room for White-Ball Role
