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Former Australian batter and England’s former consultant coach Michael Hussey has reacted to the appointment of Stephen Fleming as the Test head coach, replacing Brendon McCullum.
Hussey knows Fleming closely from their time together at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League, and he believes that the former New Zealand captain has the right qualities to handle England’s Test team. Amid this, Michael Vaughan backs Joe Root after England scrap midnight curfew.
Michael Hussey reveals Stephen Fleming’s emotional side
Michael Hussey has seen Stephen Fleming in two different roles. When Hussey played under him, Fleming looked very calm, but when the Australian legend became part of the coaching staff at Chennai Super Kings (CSK), he saw another side of the New Zealand icon.
Fleming could become very emotional when things were not going according to plan. He could show anger and frustration and can be very demanding inside the coaching group, but he has the great ability to control his emotions around the players. He keeps the dressing room calm and relaxed.
Fleming knows how to balance calmness and passion
Hussey was quoted as saying by The Guardian, "One thing I really admired about Flem is that I played under him, and he just seemed so cool, calm, and collected. Nothing at all seemed to faze him. He just seemed so totally in control all the time … but then I joined the coaching staff at CSK, and I saw a completely different side to him—how passionate he is, how angry he gets when things don’t go right, and how he rides the wave a lot more.”
The former CSK coach added, “Stephen Fleming has this ability to remain calm in front of the players so as not to put any added pressure on them, but around us coaches, he lets out more of his feelings and his frustrations. He has fire and ice. He really is excellent to work with.”
Michael Hussey reveals Stephen Fleming’s secret weapon
Hussey further shared that Stephen Fleming was always trying to stay ahead of the game and figure out the next trends, but at the same time, the former CSK head coach also got a lot of respect for the basics of the game and players that had craft and skill.
The former Australian batter feels Fleming can fit well into England's Test setup because of him striking a balance between modern ideas and the traditional game. He noted, “He’s a balanced person; he respects the traditions of the game but is also trying to push the boundaries. That’s why I think he’s a nice fit for the England role.”
Fleming’s lack of Test coaching experience won’t matter: Michael Hussey
It will be the first assignment for Stephen Fleming as the Test head coach, as he mostly worked in franchise cricket. But Hussey does not believe this will be a major problem, as Fleming understands the fundamentals of the game, having played more than 100 Test matches for New Zealand. Amid this, Michael Vaughan raises major question over Jofra Archer's Test career.
Hussey further said, “I think a lot of his coaching traits and techniques are transferable from white ball to red ball. It’s all about relationships and understanding the different personalities and trying to get the best out of them.” He recalled Fleming’s man-management skills were really strong even in those early days at CSK.
The Aussie added, “He had a nice balance between being very organized and strategic but not forgetting the fun element of why we play the game and keeping things relaxed. I think he’s always got that balance right.”
