England are preparing to appoint experienced South African coach Eric Simons as their new Test bowling coach, marking Stephen Fleming’s first major backroom appointment since taking over from Brendon McCullum.
The 64-year-old comes highly recommended by England captain Ben Stokes, who previously worked with him in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and described him as the best bowling coach he had ever encountered.
Fleming Turns to Former Chennai Super Kings Colleague
Simons’ appointment follows a long professional relationship with Fleming, having worked alongside the New Zealander at Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
Fleming stepped down from his role with the franchise in July after spending 18 years with the team.
The pair’s previous working relationship is understood to have been a factor in Simons’ selection as England prepare to refresh their Test coaching staff.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected to make further changes to the backroom team during the week.
Simons will replace New Zealander Tim Southee as England’s Test bowling coach.
Ben Stokes Praised Simons’ Coaching Expertise
Stokes has previously spoken enthusiastically about the South African’s coaching methods, drawing on their time together at the Rising Pune Supergiant IPL franchise in 2017.
The England captain described Simons as “the best bowling coach I ever worked with”, adding that the experience had been particularly valuable to his development.
“I probably learned more in two months with him than I did in 10 years before that,” Stokes said.
Simons has earned a strong reputation among those familiar with his work, particularly for his technical understanding of bowling and his ability to build close professional relationships with individual players.
Simons Brings International Coaching Experience
The South African has accumulated extensive experience across international cricket and franchise competitions.
He coached his native South Africa for two years, with his tenure ending in 2004, before spending another two years working as a bowling consultant with India’s national team.
He subsequently returned to work with South Africa and was part of the country’s coaching setup at the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Simons also has a playing background, having represented South Africa in 23 one-day internationals.
His final appearance in the format came in 1995.
Troy Cooley Retains His England Role
Simons’ arrival will not affect Troy Cooley, the Australian coach who serves as the ECB’s elite national lead for pace bowling.
Cooley remains responsible for overseeing pace-bowling development across England’s wider performance programme, a role that operates beyond the senior Test team.
The distinction means Simons will focus on the Test side’s bowling responsibilities, while Cooley continues his work across the broader English cricket system.
South Africa to Host Simons’ First Test Assignment
Simons’ first assignment as one of Fleming’s assistant coaches will take place in South Africa, where England are scheduled to begin a three-Test series at Centurion on December 17.
The appointment brings Simons back to familiar surroundings, having previously coached the South African national team and worked with its players at international level.
