Eric Simons set to join Stephen Fleming as England Test bowling coach

Eric Simons is set to become England’s Test bowling coach as Stephen Fleming assembles his support staff ahead of a December series against South Africa. BBC Sport reported that the appointment would be confirmed on Monday alongside England’s latest round of central contracts. The report identifies Simons as the first addition to Fleming’s backroom team, with formal confirmation still expected.

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The move would reunite two coaches who have worked together across several franchise competitions. Simons has been alongside Fleming at Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, as well as Joburg Super Kings in South Africa’s SA20 and Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket. The England role would bring that existing partnership into the Test set-up for Fleming’s first series in charge.

Simons, 64, brings previous international coaching experience to the proposed appointment. He led South Africa between 2002 and 2004 and later served as India’s bowling coach. Before moving into coaching, he represented South Africa in 23 one-day internationals across 1994 and 1995. His work with Fleming has since included the three Super Kings teams named in the BBC report.

England have again separated their head-coaching responsibilities by format, with Fleming taking the Test side and Brendon McCullum leading the white-ball teams. During McCullum’s time overseeing Tests, England used several fast-bowling consultants, including James Anderson, David Saker and Tim Southee. Saker is due to work on this month’s one-day tri-series in Pakistan alongside Jeetan Patel, Mike Yardy and Carl Hopkinson.

Other parts of England’s coaching arrangements remain unsettled. BBC Sport reported that Southee and fielding coach Sarah Taylor could return later in the winter after working with the team during the home summer. Marcus Trescothick, who took interim charge of the Test side for the Pakistan series, has not had his future role confirmed.

The white-ball staff have also added Kevin Pietersen as a batting consultant ahead of the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa. He will not travel on the Pakistan tour but is due to join England for their white-ball visit to Australia, followed by three one-day internationals in South Africa in January. Those assignments sit separately from Fleming’s preparations for the December Test series.