London, May 26 (IANS) The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday appointed Australian Trevor Bayliss as their new head coach.
Bayliss, who is currently coach of New South Wales, is due to join the ECB next month — in time to take charge of the team for the start of the Ashes in July.
“Trevor has an outstanding record as coach, has global experience and is very highly regarded in the game. He has proved himself in both domestic and international cricket, has a strong reputation for man-management and has shown how to build winning teams in all three formats,” ECB Director of England Cricket Andrew Strauss said.
“His expertise in the shorter forms of the game will be vital as we build towards three major International Cricket Council (ICC) events over the next four years; the ICC World T20 tournament in India in 2016 and the Champions Trophy and World Cup which will be staged in England and Wales in 2017 and 2019, respectively.”
Newly-appointed coach Bayliss said: “It’s an honour to be appointed England coach. There’s a great opportunity to help Alastair Cook and Eoin Morgan shape the direction and development of their respective teams. I am also looking forward to working alongside Paul Farbrace once again as we have a similar outlook on the game, get on well after two years working together and have kept in touch.
“What particularly excites me about the role is the chance to work with a very talented group of players. I firmly believe that the team has a bright future and I’ll be doing everything I can to help them realise their potential and achieve success on a consistent basis.”
Bayliss has an impressive track record which includes leading Sri Lanka to the finals of the World Cup in 2011 and the World Twenty20 in 2009 and to their highest position (second) in the World Test rankings.
Also winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) title with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012 and 2014; and winning the Australian Big Bash and Champions League with Sydney Sixers in 2012.
A former middle-order batsman, he played 58 first-class matches for his native New South Wales between 1985 and 1993 before succeeding Steve Rixon as the Australian state side’s coach in 2004.
His New South Wales side won the Sheffield Shield in his first season in charge – a feat they repeated again in 2013-14 during his second stint at the helm.