BUTTLER COULD OPEN DOOR FOR AMBITIOUS FARBRACE

PAUL FARBRACE has declared he wants England coach Trevor Bayliss’s job next year, and he is putting his faith in Jos Buttler and Joe Root to help him get it.

Farbrace is in charge of four T20 matches against Australia and India before Bayliss returns from a short break, and he has thrown his hat into the ring for the top job after the 2019 Ashes.

By asking Buttler (left) to open with Jason Roy, and preferring Root at three instead of the hard-hitting Jonny Bairstow or Alex Hales, he has made two big calls that could help his case.

Asked if he wanted Bayliss’s job, he said: “Of course. If next September, I’m offered the job as coach or, as has been discussed, splitting it and me looking after one of the teams, it would be difficult to say no.

“I’m thrilled to be asked to look after the squad. As a coach you are continually learning and trying to get better. I’ve made some horrendous mistakes in the past. But if I get a chance, that would be fantastic.”

Buttler’s move to open is in keeping with how he was eventually used in the IPL by Rajasthan Royals, but for England it means some serious hitters miss out.

Farbrace added: “Joe Root

is so adaptable at No.3. You don’t have to keep hitting sixes, you can hit fours, too.”

PROBABLE TEAMS ENGLAND: Buttler, Roy, Root, Morgan (c), Bairstow, Moeen, Curran, Plunkett, Willey, Jordan, Rashid AUSTRALIA: Finch (c), Short, Head, Maxwell, Maddinson, Carey (wk), Agar, Swepson, Richardson, Tye, Stanlake