A FAMILY AFFAIR
Wife and kids made me take England job, says Bayliss as he leads ‘Trevorlution’
Trevor Bayliss has revealed that his family talked him into becoming england coach at a time when he was happy to stay at home in sydney at the helm of New south Wales.
The australian, who has made such an impact on the england team, initially turned down the advances last year of team director andrew strauss, who wanted him to replace Peter Moores.
yet, after the intervention of his wife and two grown-up children adam and emma, Bayliss agreed to launch a ‘Trevorlution’ that has seen england win the ashes, defeat south africa in their own backyard and come close to the World Twenty20 title.
‘i wasn’t all that keen at first because i was pretty well set doing what i was doing for another two or three years,’ Bayliss said as he reflected on a productive first year with england.
‘But when i let the family know what was on the table they said, “you’ve got to go for it” and told me they’d love to live in england.
‘The other thing was that my first series was the ashes. i have never been involved in one so that had a lot to do with it as well.
‘This is one of the biggest coaching jobs in the world so once i knew the family were keen there wasn’t much of a decision to make.’
it has proved an inspired move as Bayliss, in partnership with his excellent assistant Paul Farbrace, has encouraged england to play a positive brand of cricket.
‘We have to remember we’re in the entertainment business and a big part of that is getting people through the gates and giving them their money’s worth,’ Bayliss said. ‘you want to put on a show.
‘That doesn’t have to mean going out there smashing fours and sixes all the time. it’s about the way you approach your cricket. it’s a positive mental state rather than just thinking, “i’ve got to survive”.
‘some of the best feedback you can get is walking through the crowd and people shouting, “love this positive play, keep it going”. That lets you know you’re on the right track.’
Bayliss insists his principles extend to the likes of Nick Compton, who goes into tomorrow’s final investec Test against sri lanka at lord’s in need of a score.
‘i wouldn’t like to make this about Nick,’ said Bayliss. ‘if the 11 guys in the team are the best 11 at the time then that’s what we’ll go with. But if Nick scores a lot of runs — and we all hope he does — then fantastic.’
The quiet australian has achieved his success by encouraging his players to take responsibility for themselves.
‘My view is that it’s the players’ game,’ said Bayliss. ‘i’m not a believer in telling them exactly how to play. once they’re confident of making their own decisions they become self-reliant.
‘i never get too hot under the collar — well, i don’t show it anyway — because i don’t think the modern cricketer reacts well to that. if you’re honest with them you can still be stern and they will take it on board better. The players know now i don’t bite and am pretty easy-going.’
Bayliss, though, is ultracompetitive, not least when he found himself taking on the australians immediately after arriving here. He insists that it was a situation he loved.
‘in australia in years gone by we would always play backyard cricket day after day. you played against your brothers and best mates and there was no quarter asked and none given. you wanted to win and after the game you were mates again. i didn’t see last year’s ashes any differently.’ The former sri lanka coach will take on australia in two more ashes during the remaining three years of his contract but then will return to sydney.
‘i’ve always had the philosophy that it’s time to move on after four or five years whether you’re going well or not,’ said Bayliss. ‘after that time a different way of doing things can be healthy. i’m also very much a home bird. i love doing a bit of gardening and playing a bit of golf. so i look forward to that time but i’m enjoying this job that’s for sure.’ and when he moves on — Bayliss believes Farbrace would be an excellent choice to succeed him — he hopes to leave england as the best in the world.
‘We’re as skilful as any team in the world but there are still a few areas where we need to improve,’ said Bayliss. ‘My job is just to try to help those guys become as good as they possibly can be. The more time we’re in pressure situations and play well, the more belief the players will have that one day they will be the best in the world.
‘in the end it will be down to how hard they work to make the team the best they possibly can be. i’ve loved every minute so far and i’m excited about what comes next.’
‘I never get hot under the collar...well, I don’t show it’