Joe Root hopes the reputation and achievements of new coach Trevor Bayliss can soon start rubbing off on England’s national side.
With Bayliss set to formally take charge ahead of this summer’s Ashes, England enter a new era of sorts, given the 52-year-old Australian will be the first from that country at the helm.
That is not a factor on Root’s mind, however, as he points instead to Bayliss’s ability to bring the best out of teams, most notably with the likes of Sri Lanka, New South Wales and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Speaking before England’s second Test against New Zealand at Headingley, which starts on Friday, Root said: “He’s got a great reputation — wherever he’s gone in the world he’s had great success.
“Hopefully he can bring that to England cricket as well.”
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Root said Bayliss’s inside knowledge of the Australia players, having worked with as many as nine of them before with New South Wales “will be a slight advantage”.
“More than anything, it’s just pleasing to see or be able to get the chance to work with someone who’s worked in international cricket and domestic cricket.”
England will be huge favourites to clinch the Test series 2-0 against New Zealand, after the Lord’s Test was wrapped up in dramatic fashion this week.
New heroes emerged for England in Ben Stokes and Mark Wood, the former clubbing the quickest Test ton at Lord’s, even as Alastair Cook rolled back the years with a century under immense pressure.
Root is particularly pleased with the manner of Stokes’s rise and backed him for more.
“He’s at the start of his career. He’s a very exciting prospect,” Root said.
“I’ve known him since he was 13 years old and he’s always been very similar in the way he approaches the game. He always gives absolutely everything on the field.
“He’s desperate to do well for England and he’s desperate to do well for himself. Long may that continue.”
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