New England Test coach Stephen Fleming has made it clear that his primary goal is to focus on beating Australia, calling the Ashes rivalry between England and New Zealand a shared "obsession." Fleming, who took over the role in July, spoke to the media ahead of his first tour as coach, which will be in South Africa in December. He replaces Brendon McCullum, who was sacked as Test coach earlier this summer but continues to lead England's limited-overs team. Fleming, a former New Zealand captain, never won any of the 14 Test matches he played against Australia. The upcoming Ashes series is scheduled for the UK next summer, with England hoping to finally defeat Australia for the first time since 2015 and make up for a 4-1 loss in Australia last winter. Fleming acknowledged that England shares this focus on beating Australia, calling New Zealand the "little cousin" to Australia. He emphasized the importance of having a team that represents itself well and expressed excitement about being part of the Ashes series. Fleming contrasted his approach with McCullum's, stating that he would bet on the favorite, whereas McCullum would bet on the longest odds. He noted that under McCullum and former captain Ben Stokes, England faced criticism for their inability to adapt to changing Test cricket situations and for a lack of attention to detail. Fleming said that while a Test team should not have a specific brand or style, it should be well-planned with discipline and a strong basic structure, while also allowing for some flair. Fleming addressed the issue of standards and discipline, stating that players must behave in accordance with their positions and that it is foolish not to set standards. He mentioned that England pace bowler Brydon Carse, who is under investigation by the Cricket Regulator following allegations of an assault, remains available for selection but has not been part of any team since the incident. Fleming also spoke about his relationship with Stokes, who retired from international cricket in July. He expressed respect for Stokes' decision to retire and said he would not attempt to persuade him to return. Fleming mentioned that he missed the Pakistan series due to family and commercial commitments and addressed the late-night controversies that have affected England in the past year. He dismissed the term "Flemball," a nickname given to the previous England team, as a "medical condition" and suggested that his England team will be more assured, mature, and level compared to the team under McCullum.