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New red-ball coach Stephen Fleming and captain Joe Root can capitalise on side’s recent form and create a new identity

Just a few weeks ago I was so demoralised. The England team was a mess, a shambles. The management was terrible. One red-ball coach had just been sacked and the other wasn’t going to turn up for ages. The Test captain, whose skillset as a high-class batter who bowls at an elite standard was so important for the team’s balance, had abruptly retired. The squad seemed ill-disciplined and better at manufacturing scandals than victories. And now here I am, heading into the winter full of optimism.

The second half of the summer brought a series of outstanding Test and white-ball performances. There is a group of really talented cricketers, a coaching unit that has strong individuals and combinations across formats, and I feel we’re well placed to take on South Africa, who are always going to be tough and competitive, in our next Test series, and to go into next summer benefiting from a sensible, consistent approach.

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