Stephen Fleming

Few cricketers married elegance and shrewdness quite like Stephen Fleming. A left handed batter with an unhurried presence at the crease and an equally unhurried mind behind it, he grew from a promising young talent into one of New Zealand cricket's most complete leaders. Fleming made his international debut in 1994 and spent the next 14 years near the centre of New Zealand cricket. He scored 7,172 Test runs at 40.06 and 8,037 ODI runs, adding a further 110 runs in his brief T20I career. His Test career included nine centuries and a highest score of 274 not out.

His importance went well beyond the numbers. Fleming became New Zealand's youngest Test captain and eventually one of its longest-serving leaders. He was rarely the most flamboyant figure in a team, but his tactical intelligence, calmness and willingness to take difficult decisions made him an influential captain during an era when New Zealand frequently had to compete against deeper and more powerful international sides. He also captained New Zealand to their first-ever ICC trophy, beating India in the final of the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy.

Fleming retired from international cricket in 2008, bringing an era to an end for one of New Zealand's defining cricketers. His transition into coaching was almost seamless. Having joined Chennai Super Kings as a player in the inaugural IPL season, he took over as head coach in 2009 and guided CSK to five IPL titles and two Champions League Twenty20 titles. His coaching career also took him to other franchise competitions, including the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League and teams in The Hundred. He later became involved with the Super Kings' wider franchise network in South Africa and the USA, further establishing himself as one of the most experienced coaches in global T20 cricket.

In July 2026, Fleming and CSK mutually parted ways after 18 years, bringing a successful partnership to an end. That extensive experience in franchise cricket eventually opened the door to a return to the international game as England Men's Test Head Coach, with Fleming taking over from fellow New Zealander Brendon McCullum.