Stephen Fleming Sets Sights on Beating Australia: 'I Have an Obsession With It'

Newly appointed England red-ball coach Stephen Fleming has set his sights on conquering Australia, admitting he shares a deep-seated obsession with defeating England's oldest rivals.

The former New Zealand skipper, who succeeds Brendon McCullum in the Test arena, is preparing for his first assignment—a challenging three-match series in South Africa starting this December.

Despite the immediate hurdle of the Proteas, Fleming's thoughts are already drifting towards the ultimate test in international cricket, echoing the English game's historic fixation with the Ashes.

"Beating Australia is a massive focus, and yes, I have an obsession with it as well," Fleming revealed, pointing to his long-standing rivalry with Australia during his playing days for the Black Caps.

He follows in the footsteps of his compatriot McCullum, who revolutionized England's Test play with 'Bazball'. While Fleming's tactical style is historically more calculated, the hunger to dominate the Aussies remains a common thread.

First, however, he must navigate the bouncing tracks of South Africa, where England will look to assert their dominance and test new combinations under his guidance.

As England plans for the long-term, Fleming's arrival signals a highly focused campaign to regain the urn and establish a new era of Test supremacy.