- Published
New Test coach Stephen Fleming said he shared English cricket's "obsession" with the Ashes and arrives with the goal to "beat the Aussies".
asserted
he → publish → Aussies
Fleming was speaking to the media for the first time since being appointed in July and ahead of taking charge for the tour of South Africa in December.
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Fleming → speak → December
The next Ashes series is in the UK next summer, when England will look to defeat the Australians for the first time since 2015 and avenge a dismal 4-1 defeat down under last winter.
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England → look → defeat
Asked if England are too obsessed with beating Australia, Fleming told BBC Sport: "No, because I have an obsession with it as well.
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I → ask → it
New Zealand has an obsession with it, we love it.
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we → have → it
We want to beat the Aussies.
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We → want → Aussies
We're heavily linked to England performances.
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We → link → performances
We have a deep desire to beat Australia in everything, as the little cousin.
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We → have → cousin
We are linked, and
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We → link → ?
"You don't think you're ever going to get that opportunity.
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you → think → opportunity
To have that opportunity and be part of it, I can't wait.
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I → have → it
"I want to be my best self and have a team that represents itself in the best possible way.
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that → want → way
I've got a vision of that and it's aspirational.
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it → get → that
Fleming, the former New Zealand captain, did not taste victory in any of the 14 Tests he played against Australia.
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he → taste → Australia
He succeeds his former team-mate McCullum, who was sacked as Test coach earlier this summer, but remains as boss of the white-ball team.
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who → succeed → team
England won only two of McCullum's final 10 Tests in charge, including the hammering in Australia.
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England → win → Australia
Part of the criticism of England under McCullum and former captain Ben Stokes was their inability to adapt to the changing situations of Test cricket, as well as a lack of attention to detail.
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Part → adapt → detail
He described the difference between the two as being: "I'll bet on the favourite and he'll bet on the longest odds possible."
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he → describe → odds
On whether a Test team should have a brand or style, Fleming said: "I don't think so.
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I → say → brand
The greatest thing for a team to do is to be able to play conditions and situations.
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team → do → conditions
I'd love people to say we are well-planned, there's a discipline and a really strong basic structure to what we're doing, but there's also a bit of flair."
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we → love → flair
The final months of McCullum's reign were dogged by late-night drinking controversies, which continued after England changed the Test coach.
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England → dog → coach
On Friday, Derbyshire Police announced they had closed an investigation involving England pace bowler Brydon Carse following allegations of an assault last month.
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they → announce → assault
Though Carse will face no action from the police, he now faces an investigation from the Cricket Regulator.
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he → face → Regulator
He remains available for England selection, albeit has not been part of a squad in any format since the Derby incident.
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He → remain → incident
"There are standards," said Fleming.
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Fleming → be → ?
"We pick on runs and wickets primarily, but I think it's foolish not to also say there are standards that need to be set.
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that → pick → runs
"You need to behave in accordance with your position.
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You → need → position
We're in a very privileged position, and it's understanding that privilege and what goes along with it.
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what → understand → it
You can't be when it suits you to do the right things, then when you don't want it to suit you, not.
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it → suit → you
"You've got to live it every day.
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You → get → it
If we can create something when you want to live it every day and better, then that's really powerful."
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that → create → it
Earlier in the week he visited a number of counties and met Stokes during Durham's draw against Worcestershire.
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he → visit → Worcestershire
Stokes abruptly retired from international cricket in July and has a previous relationship with Fleming from their time together with Chennai Super Kings at the Indian Premier League.
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Stokes → retire → League
But Fleming said he had too much "respect" for Stokes' decision to attempt to coax him out of retirement.
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he → say → retirement
"He was in a great space, really happy, enjoying his time with Durham
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He → enjoy → Durham
," said Fleming.
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Fleming → say → ?
"He's got a good winter planned with the family and is very much at peace with his decision.
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He → get → decision
When a player makes that decision to retire, I respect that decision 100%.
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I → make → decision
"To try to turn that around and question that is wrong.
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try → try → that
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
