Trevor Bayliss has stepped down as Head coach of England cricket team on a high with an Ashes 2019 leveling victory over Australia at The Oval on Sunday (September 15).
Bayliss bid adieu to his role after Joe Root and his team’s massive 135-run victory over Australia in the fifth and final Test match of the Ashes series 2019 on Sunday (September), as England managed to draw the five-match Test series 2-2 to deny tourists to register first Ashes win on the English soil since 2001.
Bayliss, who was presented with a silver bat by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves for his contribution on Sunday, will be remembered as the most phenomenal coach of the Three Lions, having guided the side to 2015 Ashes success, the final of ICC World T20 2016 in India and then white-ball turnaround to World Cup 2019 glory and now Ashes draw under his stint.
As his four-year contract as head coach came to an end with the end of Ashes series, Bayliss pointed out that he will be remembered for bringing modern style to the side, as well as, for the change of attitude in England's white-ball cricket after being given the role following dismals World Cup campaign in 2015.
Bayliss told Sky Sports, “A change of attitude and a change of the way we played the game. Looking back to the 2015 World Cup England probably played the game a little bit old-fashioned. It was about actually bringing in players more attuned to playing the more modern style of game.”
He continued, “Whoever was going to win this World Cup was going to need a bold attitude and we stuck to our guns throughout the four years, even in some tough periods. It allowed us to have some tough conversations with the boys but they stuck to what they believed in and over time they also learned to adapt.”
On his favourite moment of the successful English summer, Bayliss said: “The cherry on top for this series was winning the World Cup and there have been a lot of memories made.”
He also commented on England’s efforts in the final Test, adding: “It was a fantastic effort to draw the series, not being able to win the Ashes, but there was still pride on the line for the boys and Test Championship points. To finish off well and level up the series I think we showed a lot of character.”
Bayliss signed off by saying, “2-2 was a fair score. Both teams had their chances to win the series. We certainly did not play as well as we would have liked to.”
(With Skysports Inputs)
