Stephen Fleming is no longer the head coach of Southern Brave with Adi Birrell to take over from the 2025 season.
Stephen Fleming has stepped down as Southern Brave’s head coach in the men’s Hundred, citing family reasons.
Before the 2023 season, Fleming took over from Mahela Jayawardene. He guided the Brave to the knockout stages twice, losing the final the previous season and the eliminator in his first year as manager.
For the 2025 season, he will be succeeded by Hampshire head coach Adi Birrell. As part of the ongoing privatisation process, Hundred franchisees are strengthening their relationships with their host teams. Birrell led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to consecutive Hundred titles, demonstrating his recent success in franchise cricket.
Although some have been assistant coaches, Birrell will be the first county head coach to simultaneously be in charge of a men’s Hundred team. Although he is still in charge of the County Championship and the T20 Blast, he will be replaced as Hampshire’s coach for the Metro Bank Cup, the 50-over competition that plays concurrently with the Hundred.
Given his longstanding affiliation with the Chennai Super Kings, Fleming’s departure prevents him from coaching a squad that is partially owned by a rival IPL side. The GMR Group, co-owners of the Delhi Capitals, purchased Hampshire last year and will acquire the majority stake in the Brave this year.
In addition to coaching Chennai since 2009, he has managed their affiliated teams in the SA20 (Joburg Super Kings) and Major League Cricket (Texas Super Kings). Fleming said in a statement that he would be able to spend more time at home if he stepped down from his position with the Brave.
“I absolutely loved my time at Southern Brave, working in the Hundred and working with a great group of people at Utilita Bowl,” Fleming said. “We got close to winning a couple of times so it’s difficult to step down but for family reasons I need to be able to dedicate more time to being at home this season. I wish everyone at Southern Brave the best for 2025.”
Giles White, who is director of cricket at the Brave and Hampshire, said: “Stephen created an excellent environment for the players and it has been an enjoyable and successful stint with us… In his place we are delighted to welcome Adi Birrell and look forward to seeing him build on the team’s success in 2025.”