‘Farbrace can be the next boss’

TREVOR BAYLISS has backed his No 2 Paul Farbrace to step up to the main role when he quits after the Ashes next September.

Farbrace, below, will take temporary charge of the England dressing room for the Vitality IT20 Series against Australia and India, starting at Edgbaston tomorrow.

But Bayliss says his trusted lieutenant has the qualities to do it permanently.

“Could Farby take over? Definitely,” said Bayliss. “He’s had success doing it before but like anything it’s experience and the more you do and the more you work out what works and doesn’t work helps.

“This series is an opportunity to get that experience with the top team. If that’s what he wants to do then I’m all for it.”

Bayliss and England director of cricket Andrew Strauss agreed six months ago that Farbrace would be given this taste of frontline action for the short format series, the one against Australia and three against India.

“Everyone knows I won’t be here in September 2019, so what plan Strauss has in mind for that I don’t know, but I was happy to give Farby the opportunity when he [Strauss] asked me if I’d have any problem with it,” said Bayliss.

Farbrace coached Sri Lanka to great success – winning the Asia Cup and World T20 in 2014 – and joined England as No2 originally to Peter Moores later that year.

And while much water will pass under the bridge between now and the end of the Ashes, Farbrace is a strong contender for one or other of what are expected to become split roles for white and red ball cricket, particularly if England win the World Cup next summer.

JIMMY Anderson looks set to play for England Lions v India A at Worcester on July 16-19 on the comeback trail ahead of the first Test against India on August 1.