Stephen Fleming is set to be named as England's next red ball coach, per multiple sources.
The former New Zealand skipper recently stepped down from his role as coach of the Chennai Super Kings, and its sister franchises Joburg Super Kings and Texas Super Kings after a string of failures in their respective T20 leagues.
The latter two franchises never managed a push for the title in the SA20 and the MLC, respectively. Meanwhile, CSK, who have made 12 playoff appearances, 10 finals and clinched five IPL titles, failed to make the knockout stages in each of the last three seasons.
"Eighteen years is a lifetime in sport, and I leave with nothing but gratitude," Fleming wrote.
"My time with Chennai Super Kings has been the privilege of my coaching career. I am proud of everything we have achieved. Together, we celebrated unforgettable victories, overcame difficult moments, and built memories that will stay with me forever. CSK will always be close to my heart, and I will be cheering the team on for years to come."
Fleming impresses ECB with interviews
Coincidentally, Fleming's compatriot Brendon McCullum was relieved off his duties in the longer format of the game.
And, there were plenty of suitors soon after to take up the hot seat, including Andy Flower - who has an association with England previously but turned down the job, Tom Moody, England legend Jonathan Trott, and Glamorgan's coach Richard Dawson.
More recently, Justin Langer was rumored to have been linked with the role, but he rubbished the speculation, stating that no one from the ECB contacted him.
What has impressed them, instead, has been Fleming's vision in the round of interviews. He is expected to link up with the Test squad in December versus South Africa, and will have a say in handpicking Ben Stokes' successor.
Fleming's relationship with McCullum key to the job
The 53-year-old captained Baz in his early years as a player, and coached him at Chennai when the duo won the IPL.
The pair have established a notable working relationship on the field, and the mutual backing between themselves will hold key to England's fortunes across all three formats.
As such, they'll take the calls on player management, selection between competitions and bilateral series, as well as nurturing a culture ahead of the ICC tournaments that lie in wait.
England's next assignment in Test cricket is the home series against Pakistan, where assistant coach Marcus Trescothick could plug the gap on an interim basis.
