WIZARD FROM OZ BAYLISS EDGES CLOSER TO GLORY WITH ENGLAND
IT IS easy to forget Andrew Strauss sprang a surprise when he plumped for Trevor Bayliss ahead of Tom Moody and Jason Gillespie four years ago as the coach to lead England out of the white-ball dark ages and build a challenge for this World Cup. The contrast between the calm Australian and his hyper-active predecessor Peter Moores appealed to England’s new team director — but it was Bayliss’s success in the Indian Premier League and in taking Sri Lanka to the 2011 World Cup final that most impressed Strauss. Now Bayliss, 56, is two games away from accomplishing the mission that would earn him legendary status as English cricket’s favourite Australian. Not that Bayliss is getting carried away about Thursday’s semi-final — almost certainly against India — and the delicious prospect of a final against his countrymen at Lord’s. Excitement is not the style of a New South Welshman recruited for his level head. ‘Look, I can honestly say I want to get to the World Cup final and win it, but I would be even more happy for the players,’ said Bayliss when asked what it would mean to him to go one better than when his Sri Lanka side lost the 2011 final to India. ‘This is going to be another step up in class now. If it is India next, they will have a point to prove after losing to us and they are a very good side. ‘We have to produce what we have done in the last two games and the fact this last one was effectively a quarter-final should serve us well. ‘All I can ask is we play good cricket because if we do that, the opposition will have to play extremely well to beat us.’
Jimmy Anderson will have a scan today on his injured right calf, amid fears that he faces a race against time to be fit for the first Test against Australia on August 1. Anderson, 36, pulled up while bowling for Lancashire against Durham in their drawn match at Sedbergh School this week. England’s record wicket-taker is said to be upbeat, although the scan has been delayed a day to allow the injury to settle.
West Indies defeated Bangladesh by 23 runs in yesterday’s dead rubber World Cup match.