Leave T20s to the leagues says Bayliss
TREVOR BAYLISS would happily abolish T20 internationals and leave the game’s most thriving format to domestic leagues across the world.
The England coach has floated similar thoughts in the past but doing so on the occasion of England’s 100th T20 match represents a significant intervention.
His side beat New Zealand by two runs in Hamilton but missed out on a Tri-Series final against Australia due to inferior net run-rate.
Bayliss is concerned about the exhausting demands of the cricket calendar, with players increasingly unable to play a full role across all formats.
But how his words will go down at Edgbaston, Old Trafford, Cardiff and Bristol – venues currently selling tickets for the summer’s England T20s – can only be guessed. “I haven’t changed my opinion on it. I wouldn’t play T20 internationals,” said Bayliss. “I’d just let the franchises play. If we continue putting on so many games there will be a certain amount of blowout, not just players but coaches as well.
“But if you want to play a World Cup every four years or whatever it is, maybe six months before you can get the international teams and let them play T20s.” The issue overshadowed the end of England’s interest in the Trans-Tasman tournament.
Although they defended 195, they needed to keep the Black Caps under 175 to progress and failed by 17 runs. “Once that went naturally heads went down,” said captain Eoin Morgan, who topscored with 80 not out.
“We had absolutely no right to be in the final. We played terribly in the series.”