‘Part of my DNA’: Stephen Fleming sends clear message on facing Australia in Ashes as England’s new Test coach

Stephen Fleming said facing Australia in the Ashes is part of his cricketing DNA.

The former New Zealand skipper described the chance to lead England into the series as a dream come true.

Stuart Broad said Fleming's clear enthusiasm for the challenge was striking.

Stephen Fleming is as eager to beat the Aussies in the Ashes as England's Test coach

Stephen Fleming has barely settled into the England job, but he has already made clear where his priorities sit. Speaking to Michael Atherton, the new Test head coach was reminded that next summer's Ashes are now only a handful of matches away. And his response left no doubt about how much the series means to him personally.

Fleming himself has played 14 Tests against the mighty Australians of the 1990s and 2000s. He also had to retire without ever tasting victory against the Aussies. That's a frustration shared by generations of New Zealand cricketers who have long measured themselves against their much larger neighbour.

For Fleming, too, that's a fire that still burns, and it has motivated an answer that goes well beyond the usual coach-speak about one series among many. Stuart Broad, reacting to the interview afterward, picked out that same moment as the part that struck him most, seeing in it genuine excitement rather than rehearsed enthusiasm for the job.

What Stephen Fleming said about the Ashes being part of his DNA

When asked by former English skipper Michael Atherton whether he needed reminding of what the Ashes mean to England's supporters, Fleming turned the question back towards his own competitive instincts. Atherton was quick to point out that there are just nine Tests remaining for England before the Ashes. In response, the New Zealander remained totally calm.

"Yeah, and you also got to remember that New Zealanders like beating Australians as well. So, that's a good place to start. But it looks, to me as a cricket lover, in part of my DNA to be involved in an Ashes is a dream really to come true. What an opportunity that I'm so privileged to now have," Fleming told Atherton on Sky Sports .

He was candid about needing to manage his emotions around the occasion. "The vision of winning an Ashes is something I might have to suppress. The feelings might be different, but the desire to do it will be 100 per cent the same. And yeah, I have a picture in my mind of what that can look like, and it's pretty good," he added.

But while he remains realistic about what his team can achieve next summer, he is no less excited by the opportunity to defeat Australia in the Ashes.

Why Stuart Broad picked out the same line

Reflecting on the interview afterward, Broad zeroed in on Fleming's Ashes comments as the moment that told him the most about the new coach's mindset heading into the job.

"I enjoyed listening to a lot of his quotes. I think my favourite was New Zealanders like beating the Australians, too. Which made me smile, I must say," Broad said.

The former English seamer cheekily mentioned that perhaps the Kiwis don't enjoy beating the Aussies as much as they do, but he still loved Fleming's energy. "Not perhaps quite as much as we do. But he seemed to have a good energy in his voice, right? He seemed excited to do the job," Broad said.

That reading fits the broader picture of how Fleming has presented himself since taking the role. For someone who spent his playing career falling agonisingly short against Australia, the chance to defeat them has now presented itself to Fleming once again. The only difference is that, instead of the pitch, this time Fleming will stay in the dugout.

With an obvious personal stake in the outcome, Fleming's motivation goes beyond simply doing a professional job well. Now, whether that motivation translates into results next summer remains to be seen, but few will doubt its sincerity.

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