Tuesday 26 May 2015 12:34, UK
Australian Trevor Bayliss is in negotiations with the ECB about becoming England’s new head coach with Yorkshire’s Jason Gillespie out of the running.
Gillespie had openly declared an interest in the role but has confirmed to Sky Sports News HQ that he is not in the frame to take up the post .
Sky sources understand talks have already started with Bayliss, one of the most experienced, successful and widely travelled coaches in world cricket.
Gillespie, who had been considered the favourite, will therefore miss out on taking on a role which he said would have been ‘a good challenge’.
“The ECB have put out a press release and said they’re speaking to their preferred candidate,” Gillespie told Sky Sports News HQ. “I’ve spoken to Andrew Strauss and I’m not that preferred candidate, so that’s absolutely fine.
“I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed - it would have been a good job to have, no question. There are exciting times ahead for English cricket and it would have been a good challenge.
“But it’s not to be. I’ve got a wonderful job at Yorkshire and with the Adelaide Strikers and I’m really looking forward to continuing that work.”
Bayliss is the New South Wales coach and guided them to the Sheffield Shield title in 2005 and ING Cup in 2006 in his first spell, and after returning to them in 2013 won the Sheffield Shield again last year.
He has plenty of international experience – he coached the Sri Lanka national team which reached the World Cup final in 2011. He was on the bus with the Sri Lanka team that was attacked by terrorists in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2009, along with Paul Farbrace, his assistant then and now standing in as England coach following the departure of Moores.
It appears that they will now be reunited.
Bayliss also led the Australia ODI side to victory in last November’s series with South Africa, coached the Sydney Sixers to victory in the inaugural Big Bash in 2012, and then the T20 Champions League crown later that year.
He also coached Kolkata Knight Riders to the Indian Premier League titles in 2012 and 2014.
He is a trusted adviser of Australia’s current Test coach Darren Lehmann and is perfectly placed to prepare England for the Ashes – no fewer than nine of his New South Wales team are in the Australia tour squad.
He has never played international cricket though, a criticism often levelled at Moores. A right-handed middle-order batsman, occasional off-spin bowler and brilliant fielder, he played in 58 first-class matches and 50 List A matches for New South Wales between 1985-1997. He finished with a career batting average of 35.58.
