New England Test coach Stephen Fleming has declared his ambition to "beat the Aussies", stating he shares English cricket's "obsession" with the Ashes. Fleming made these comments in his first media appearance since his appointment in July.
The former New Zealand captain will officially begin his tenure with the tour of South Africa in December. The next Ashes series is set to take place in the UK next summer, where England will aim for their first victory against Australia since 2015, following a 4-1 defeat last winter.
Fleming, who succeeds his former team-mate Brendon McCullum, emphasised the importance of standards within the team. He also stated he would not attempt to persuade Ben Stokes to reverse his retirement decision, respecting the former captain's choice.