Former England captain Ben Stokes has stated his desire to coach the England Test team once his playing career concludes. Stokes revealed on the 'For the Love of Cricket' podcast that he is currently completing his Level Three coaching qualification.
Stokes' ambition comes as Stephen Fleming is set to replace Brendon McCullum as England's Test coach, beginning with the winter tour of South Africa. Fleming's appointment marks the fourth foreign coach hired by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the men's Test team since 2009.
The current coaching landscape in English cricket shows a limited number of English coaches in prominent roles. Of the 18 counties in England and Wales, 12 have English head coaches, but only Richard Dawson was reportedly considered for the recent England Test coaching vacancy. Furthermore, only one of the eight Hundred franchises this season has an English head coach.
Former England bowler Darren Gough has suggested that while the head coach can be foreign, other coaching staff within the England set-up should be English to provide opportunities for domestic coaches.