The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Thursday that Fleming, the former New Zealand captain who recently left as five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach, would take the Test coach role after parting ways with McCullum in the wake of England's 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always a novelty getting someone new in. I haven\u2019t come across Stephen Fleming but I\u2019ve heard good things. So that will be interesting to see how he wants to play \u2013 another Kiwi. We\u2019ll see how we go. It\u2019s exciting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhenever you get a change, it\u2019s always exciting just to see how it\u2019s going to be, how the group\u2019s going to go. It\u2019s about winning games of cricket at the end of the day. I think we maybe went away from that too much but playing with Baz and Ben was so fun and enjoyable. It\u2019s a shame that\u2019s finished but I\u2019m excited someone new is coming in,\u201d Robinson was quoted as saying by The i Paper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Robinson, who is aiming to return for England\u2019s upcoming Test series against Pakistan starting on August 19, admitted that the sudden departures of Stokes left the dressing room stunned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think we were all a bit shocked really when he did retire. I was gutted because I loved playing under him and with him. And now Baz (has gone). Obviously, he\u2019s said he didn\u2019t get the results he wanted but those two at the top were great to play under.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a shame but I think it happens, doesn\u2019t it, in English cricket? My first Ashes was Chris Silverwood\u2019s last (as coach in 2021-22). You just have those cycles where you get a change and you go again.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Robinson, who made a sensational comeback at Lord\u2019s in June with a seven-wicket haul before missing the next two Tests due to knee soreness, has been working closely with England\u2019s medical team and director of cricket Rob Key to rebuild his fitness ahead of the Pakistan series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAt the start of the season I wasn\u2019t expecting to get back into the England squad. I knew I had a bit of work to do to get back to where I wanted to be, so I took a little four-week block to work on body fitness and get a bit stronger. There was a lot more running, bike sessions. I\u2019ve been working closely with England on that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve set a programme for me and a schedule to follow. It\u2019s been good. I\u2019ve had some good communication with Rob Key the last few weeks. I\u2019ve just got to get myself in the best physical condition I can to be ready for Pakistan and hopefully I get picked.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cLord\u2019s was an incredible game. It was the perfect pitch to return on to be honest. I think luck was in my favour a little bit there but it was great to be back and although there\u2019s a bit going on behind the scenes it\u2019s just about getting myself as right as possible and ready for selection if it comes.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With interim coach Marcus Trescothick taking charge for the Pakistan series before Fleming officially assumes his role, Robinson warned against using the off-field transition as an excuse.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think we have to be ruthless, we have to go and try and win it 3-0 from the get-go. We can\u2019t glide into this series because there\u2019s been change and just expect to win. We have to put our foot down and use this series to show how we want to win games of cricket moving forward. I think winning 3-0 would be the best answer to that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With interim coach Marcus Trescothick taking charge for the Pakistan series before Fleming officially assumes his role, Robinson warned against using the off-field transition as an excuse.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSouth Africa will be a good test. I think the Test matches we\u2019ve got between now and the Ashes will be a good challenge. The next 12 months are big for English cricket. Let\u2019s get the fans back onside and see what we can do.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n