Bayliss now getting very best out of Cook and Co
Broad leads ‘Trevolution’
NOTHING sums up the understated coaching methods of Trevor Bayliss that have played such a big part in England’s development more than the ‘kick up the a***’ he delivered that inspired his side to a third Test success.
The impact of a rare rocket from Bayliss with the Test and series on a knife edge at lunch on the third day was the perfect example of how the ‘Trevolution’ has turned the huge potential of this ‘new’ England side into solid achievement.
Andrew Strauss has not put a foot wrong since becoming team director last year, at a time when England were still trying to win back the confidence of a public disillusioned by the bitter aftermath of their 5-0 Ashes thrashing.
Yet, of all the big calls Strauss made less than a year ago at a still volatile time, it is his decision to ignore the popular Jason Gillespie to instead appoint a lesser-known Australian as Peter Moores’ coaching replacement that has been most significant.
While Moores, a decent man and respected coach who was sadly found wanting at international level, was hands on at all times, the man once known as ‘Trevor who?’ prefers to take a step back, stay quiet and allow the players to take responsibility.
So, when he called them together in the pavilion of the ‘Bullring’ on Saturday with South Africa 16 without loss in their second innings, 10 runs ahead and in the driving seat, the England team listened.
‘I wouldn’t class it as a kick up the backside,’ said Bayliss of Alastair Cook’s description of his address. ‘It was more of a reminder. I just felt that our attitude before lunch, and even in the first innings, was not quite right in the field.
‘I just told them that their energy and attitude had to be more full on. If we wanted to win the Test, that was the time to hunt in a pack and get in the batsmen’s faces.’
England have become used to Bayliss being the quieter half of what has become a formidable coaching partnership with the more outgoing Paul Farbrace — and the Australian’s words resonated with them.
‘You have to pick your moment and that’s why, sometimes, I don’t say anything,’ said Bayliss. ‘A player has to make mistakes to learn from them. If someone is telling them what to do all the time, then they don’t always recognise it themselves.
‘For instance, people have asked me what we said to Ben Stokes before he went out to bat here and in Cape Town. Nothing. We just let him go out and play. It has to come from within. It’s a learning process.’
England are learning fast now. Since the clumsy sacking of Moores on a dark day in Dublin eight months ago, progress has been significant under Bayliss and Farbrace, and setbacks are becoming few and far between.
The England team that defeated South Africa here had an average age of 28, but it was 29-year-old Stuart Broad who responded most to Bayliss by confirming that he is at the very peak of his powers.
‘When he’s on, he’s on,’ said Bayliss of Broad’s latest spell. ‘I’m fully aware that when he takes wickets he usually takes a lot of them for not very many. Thankfully, he’s still got a few years left in front of him.’
So did Bayliss see the potential in this England side when Strauss called him and implored him to give up his job with New South Wales to take charge of his old enemy?
‘Until I got the call I didn’t take any interest in England,’ said Bayliss. ‘When I looked at the side, I could see there were some good, young players there.
‘Some of the signs were good and the future of this team could turn into something special.’
And at the helm of it with Bayliss will be Cook, the captain who came through the bad times and the agenda-driven hostility that came with it to become not only a double Ashes winning captain, but also the first man to lead his side to series successes in both India and now South Africa.
And with Cook leading an exciting group of players in an environment free of egos and with no difficult characters, there is no limit to what this side can achieve. With Bayliss in the background.