England appoints Eric Simons as Test bowling coach

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 09:36 · Archive

Eric Simons, a former South Africa head coach, is to become England's Test bowling coach under Stephen Fleming.

Eric Simons, 64, is joining England as Test bowling coach, the first appointment for Stephen Fleming in his new role as Test head coach. Simons previously served as South Africa head coach for two years until 2004 and later spent two years as a bowling consultant to India. He has also worked recently with South Africa and at Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, where he was a long-time ally of Fleming.

The appointment will be confirmed on Monday when England announce central contracts. Simons will take over bowling duties from New Zealand's Tim Southee. His role will not affect Troy Cooley, the ECB's elite national lead for pace bowling, who works across England's entire performance programme.

Simons played 23 one-day internationals for South Africa, retiring in 1995. Ben Stokes, who worked with him at the Rising Pune Supergiant IPL franchise in 2017, has described him as 'the best bowling coach I ever worked with', adding that he 'probably learned more in two months with him than I did in 10 years before that'. Simons' first assignment will be England's Test series against South Africa beginning in December at Centurion.

How it is being reported

• England appoint bowling coach Eric Simons - who Ben Stokes named 'the best I've EVER worked with' - as Stephen Fleming looks to make his mark on Test sideEric Simons, 64, coached his native South Africa for two years until 2004, and later spent two years as a bowling consultant to the Indian national side.Daily Mail Sport · 12 Oct, 09:21
• South African Simons to join England Test set-upEngland are set to add the first name to Stephen Fleming’s backroom team, with Eric Simons joining as Test bowling coach.BBC Sport · 11 Oct, 22:28

In this story: Eric Simons · Stephen Fleming · England · South Africa · Ben Stokes · Chennai Super Kings · Tim Southee

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem