New Delhi: Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowling coach Eric Simons has joined England as the Test bowling coach. Simons, who has also served as South Africa’s head coach in the past, will work under former CSK head coach Stephen Fleming for the England Test team.
Simons’ appointment comes months after Fleming was sacked by CSK before being roped in by England as their new Test head coach. The former New Zealand captain served as CSK’s head coach from 2009 to 2026, overseeing a successful phase where the franchise won ten titles and reached ten finals.
Simons was also part of Fleming’s support staff at CSK. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the 64-year-old’s appointment as England’s Test bowling coach. Fleming will be joined by the likes of Simmons, former England batter Marcus Trescothick and James Foster in his coaching staff.
“England Men’s Test Head Coach, Stephen Fleming, will be supported by a coaching staff including Dawson, Marcus Trescothick, James Foster and Eric Simons. England Men’s white-ball Head Coach, Brendon McCullum’s coaching team will include Sarah Taylor, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee and Kevin Pietersen in his mentor role. The coaching staff will be in place from the upcoming tours of South Africa (Test) and Australia (white-ball), respectively,” ECB said in a release.
Eric Simons’ coaching career
Former South Africa cricketer Simons was involved with CSK for a long time in the IPL. He also served as the bowling coach of the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant when CSK were suspended from the league for two seasons in 2016 and 2017.
Simons worked under Fleming, who served as the head coach of the Rising Pune Supergiant for two seasons. He also worked as the assistant coach at CSK’s sister franchise, Joburg Super Kings, in South Africa’s SA20.
The 64-year-old served as the head coach of the South Africa national team for a short period in 2000 and was also in charge of the Proteas in the 2003 ODI World Cup. He also worked as a bowling consultant for the Indian team for two years.
Simons played 23 ODIs for South Africa in his international career, which lasted a year. He also played 123 first-class and 193 List A matches in his career.