Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming believes his new position as England Test head coach should be overseen by somebody English.

Peter Moores, with two stints, and Chris Silverwood are the only English coaches of the Test side this century, while Ashley Giles had an ill-fated stint heading up the white-ball sides.

When New Zealander Brendon McCullum was sacked from the Test job, former England internationals Jonathan Trott and Richard Dawson were linked to succeeding him before Fleming was appointed in July.

However, Fleming, who will officially begin his role in South Africa in December, told the BBC: “I do believe that primarily the national team should be coached by a national representative.”

England have had success under overseas coaches with Zimbabwean pair Duncan Fletcher and Andy Flower leading them to Ashes wins, and Australia’s Trevor Bayliss managed the 2019 ODI World Cup triumph.

While Trott is about to head up the second-string England Lions, Dawson has taken up a post in England’s backroom team, alongside fellow Englishmen Marcus Trescothick and James Foster.

Fleming added: “I’m grateful for the opportunity, but there will be some development in terms of the coaching, and you can see by our staff. I look forward to working with them.

“But it is a real focus and it’s an ambition as well that you will also get county coaches who will be introduced at certain times and you will get past players that will be asked to come back as well.

“It’s really inclusive and a comfortable nature of using what’s around, but also driving what should be driven within the county game and the English game.”

PA