Bayliss surprise pick to replace Moores

‘ Kiwis played their part in a wonderful advert for the fi ve- day game’

TREVOR BAYLISS will be confi rmed as the new England coach today after beating off competition from fellow Aussie Jason Gillespie.

The New South Wales coach, 52, was last night fl ying to London to put his name to a deal to replace Peter Moores, a contract thought to be in excess of £ 300,000 a year.

Andrew Strauss was understood to have been impressed not only with the experience of Bayliss in all formats of the game but particularly his record of winning silverware in limited- overs formats.

It is understood Gillespie, inset, partially ruled himself out on account of the time he would have been expected to spend away from his family in Yorkshire.

England captain Alastair Cook said the players had been surprised to hear the news, which broke before play yesterday. “It took us by surprise but I need to ring Andrew and see what’s going on,” he said.

The new head coach is expected to introduce himself to the side later this week and then pick up the reins of the England set- up for the limited- overs series against the Kiwis – fi ve one- day internationals and a T20 from June 9 to 23. But he will need to hit the ground running given that from that point there will be only two weeks before the start of the Ashes.

Bayliss crept into the process under the radar after the ECB’s pursuit of Gillespie had been expected to end with his appointment. But Gillespie was told by Strauss yesterday morning that he was not the “preferred candidate”. He said: “It would have been a tough decision for me but I don’t have to make it. That’s absolutely fi ne, no worries at all.”

Bayliss led New South Wales to two Sheffi eld Shield titles, Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL win and Sydney Sixers to a Big Bash title and Champions League T20 win.

However, his main claim to the job comes from his time with Sri Lanka, which saw him – with England’s interim coach Paul Farbrace as his No 2 – reach the World Cup fi nal in India in 2011.

Farbrace, who will stay on as assistant after the Investec Series, will provide Bayliss with a bridge into the dressing room.