Pata
06-19-2007, 08:30 AM
Typical of someone prepared to step out of their comfort zone and face a challenge, Sri Lanka's new 44-year-old coach Trevor Bayliss fits the image.
While he may call himself a "practical coach" and someone who knows a thing or two about the role, he is not going to be a Tom Moody clone, although those at Sri Lanka Cricket who interviewed him were impressed with his presentation. They felt "relaxed and comfortable" with the Australian they have appointed to handle one of the most exciting teams in the world today.
The word from Maitland Place in upmarket leafy Cinnamon Gardens with its mix of colonial and post-colonial image is that he came across as "someone special". Among those doing the interviewing were Sidath Wettimuny, Anura Tennekoon and Michael Tissera, former selectors and team managers as well as interim committee board members.
Bayliss though is the first to admit he also learnt a lot since he joined New South Wales back in the mid-1980s as a middle-order batsman and an as smart as they come fielder when patrolling the covers. Coming as he did from Gouldburn, a city in the Southern Highlands of NSW and last pit-stop before the famed Snowy River hydro scheme, Bayliss had what you would call a middling batting average. But he is also a shrewd, streetwise man who has been able to transfer his skills to the function of team mentor.
There is the impression that like John Wright, 'mentor' is not a word that fits comfortably into his vocabulary. Preference perhaps is given to the word 'practical' and all the provisions that are part of the lexicon linked to such an emphatic word.
It is something soon learnt in the granite-faced approach of New South Wales and the Blues hierarchy. They don't mess about when it comes to coaching appointments. You either fit into their scheme of professionalism, or you sink. Not for nothing have the Blues become the side with most Sheffield Shield (Pura Cup) successes and as the top state, expect each coach to produce.
This means not only players but also results; and it is the results that create the success and with a pedigree that goes back further than 120 years, you are looking at a history that smacks you in the face in big capitals.
Bayliss comes from a tough school that has produced in modern times the Waugh twins, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill and Michael Clarke among others. And taking over from a tough cookie named Steve Rixon was not going to be easy.
He told Cricket365 exclusively: "I guess that I am very much a practical kind of coach," he admits. "Working one on one with the players, bringing adjustments where it has to be brought in without damaging a player's ingenuity. Important stuff like that. That's what I have been doing.
"Coaching has changed over the years due to the advances in technology, but the basics never change.
"Yes, we can make use of the computer, but the computer is only a small part of the game. It's there if the players want to use it. It can help, but at the end players should be able to catch and throw a bat."
All sensible talk and sensible thinking from the man Sri Lanka Cricket have chosen to take over Moody's position. It means he hasn't preconceived opinions, and that is the problem in some coaching areas of the island. There are coaches wanting to change too much and getting it wrong and messing with a player's career. It has happened.
Number five in the list of Australians who have handled the job that began with Dav Whatmore in 1995 who after two years quit in disgust at how administrators fiddled with the system to the extent changes that needed to be made for defence of the World Cup in 1999 went horribly wrong.
There are moments when Bayliss is as frank as Whatmore and that is good to know as he has this way of looking you in the eye and in a sense challenges you. Or, as Kumar Sangakkara agreed before the World Cup, "It is all about challenges. You need to be challenged. You need to challenge yourself as well."
Bayliss is not one to downplay his new post either and views it with enthusiasm and that is good as Sri Lanka have tough assignments ahead that will in a sense see just how far they have come since the World Cup.
"I have two more years to run on my contract with the Blues, but they have been good to me in allowing me to take over a new job," he grins. "I am very excited to be able to coach one of the best sides in the world. Tom Moody and Trevor Penney have done great work and my job is to continue with that.
"It was great to work with all the leading players in the world (in the Blues side). With their international commitments most players' presence in the state team was limited, but when they did turn out they gave it their hundred percent.
"We have won a shield competition and two one-day competitions in the last couple of seasons and my time with them has been great."
One thing that did make an impression is the relaxed way he comes across and his affability which will in time rub off on the system. He is quite cheerful when he admits to "being passionate" about coaching and "being involved with a very good team". That is good as the team needs someone to make them feel that way and how it is not just a job, as some do.
The one drawback is that his knowledge of the Sri Lankan players is not from first-hand experience as was Moody's with Chaminda Vaas when with Worcestershire.
"I don't know any of the players. I haven't spoken to them either. I did have a chat with Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) when he called the office and I was present at the time. But I am certainly looking forward to working with such a bunch on talented players," he nods.
"We have a lot of tough series coming up and it'll be an interesting period for all of us.
"My job is not to change for the sake of change or be too heavy handed. I am sure the schemes that are in place are working well otherwise you can't be the second best team in the world. Sri Lanka have a good leader in Mahela (Jayawardene) who is respected by everyone. In fact the whole team is respected," he acknowledged.
Last came the big question of what does it take to match world's top team, and can Sri Lanka achieve this?
"Certainly it can't be done overnight. It is professionalism and attitude that make Australia such a good team and it takes time to develop these qualities. I can see Tom (Moody) has worked hard to put a process in place and things are snugly fitting into this process."
Ten years as a state player for the Blues and a similar period coaching has toughened him, but there is the impression he is flexible as well. His first task is to prepare Sri Lanka for the marshmallow event, the ICC twenty/20 slogs, as if the game needs another tournament. After that there are series against England (at home) and Australia (away).
"All tough assignments, but an interesting challenge," he agrees.
Trevor Chesterfield
While he may call himself a "practical coach" and someone who knows a thing or two about the role, he is not going to be a Tom Moody clone, although those at Sri Lanka Cricket who interviewed him were impressed with his presentation. They felt "relaxed and comfortable" with the Australian they have appointed to handle one of the most exciting teams in the world today.
The word from Maitland Place in upmarket leafy Cinnamon Gardens with its mix of colonial and post-colonial image is that he came across as "someone special". Among those doing the interviewing were Sidath Wettimuny, Anura Tennekoon and Michael Tissera, former selectors and team managers as well as interim committee board members.
Bayliss though is the first to admit he also learnt a lot since he joined New South Wales back in the mid-1980s as a middle-order batsman and an as smart as they come fielder when patrolling the covers. Coming as he did from Gouldburn, a city in the Southern Highlands of NSW and last pit-stop before the famed Snowy River hydro scheme, Bayliss had what you would call a middling batting average. But he is also a shrewd, streetwise man who has been able to transfer his skills to the function of team mentor.
There is the impression that like John Wright, 'mentor' is not a word that fits comfortably into his vocabulary. Preference perhaps is given to the word 'practical' and all the provisions that are part of the lexicon linked to such an emphatic word.
It is something soon learnt in the granite-faced approach of New South Wales and the Blues hierarchy. They don't mess about when it comes to coaching appointments. You either fit into their scheme of professionalism, or you sink. Not for nothing have the Blues become the side with most Sheffield Shield (Pura Cup) successes and as the top state, expect each coach to produce.
This means not only players but also results; and it is the results that create the success and with a pedigree that goes back further than 120 years, you are looking at a history that smacks you in the face in big capitals.
Bayliss comes from a tough school that has produced in modern times the Waugh twins, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill and Michael Clarke among others. And taking over from a tough cookie named Steve Rixon was not going to be easy.
He told Cricket365 exclusively: "I guess that I am very much a practical kind of coach," he admits. "Working one on one with the players, bringing adjustments where it has to be brought in without damaging a player's ingenuity. Important stuff like that. That's what I have been doing.
"Coaching has changed over the years due to the advances in technology, but the basics never change.
"Yes, we can make use of the computer, but the computer is only a small part of the game. It's there if the players want to use it. It can help, but at the end players should be able to catch and throw a bat."
All sensible talk and sensible thinking from the man Sri Lanka Cricket have chosen to take over Moody's position. It means he hasn't preconceived opinions, and that is the problem in some coaching areas of the island. There are coaches wanting to change too much and getting it wrong and messing with a player's career. It has happened.
Number five in the list of Australians who have handled the job that began with Dav Whatmore in 1995 who after two years quit in disgust at how administrators fiddled with the system to the extent changes that needed to be made for defence of the World Cup in 1999 went horribly wrong.
There are moments when Bayliss is as frank as Whatmore and that is good to know as he has this way of looking you in the eye and in a sense challenges you. Or, as Kumar Sangakkara agreed before the World Cup, "It is all about challenges. You need to be challenged. You need to challenge yourself as well."
Bayliss is not one to downplay his new post either and views it with enthusiasm and that is good as Sri Lanka have tough assignments ahead that will in a sense see just how far they have come since the World Cup.
"I have two more years to run on my contract with the Blues, but they have been good to me in allowing me to take over a new job," he grins. "I am very excited to be able to coach one of the best sides in the world. Tom Moody and Trevor Penney have done great work and my job is to continue with that.
"It was great to work with all the leading players in the world (in the Blues side). With their international commitments most players' presence in the state team was limited, but when they did turn out they gave it their hundred percent.
"We have won a shield competition and two one-day competitions in the last couple of seasons and my time with them has been great."
One thing that did make an impression is the relaxed way he comes across and his affability which will in time rub off on the system. He is quite cheerful when he admits to "being passionate" about coaching and "being involved with a very good team". That is good as the team needs someone to make them feel that way and how it is not just a job, as some do.
The one drawback is that his knowledge of the Sri Lankan players is not from first-hand experience as was Moody's with Chaminda Vaas when with Worcestershire.
"I don't know any of the players. I haven't spoken to them either. I did have a chat with Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) when he called the office and I was present at the time. But I am certainly looking forward to working with such a bunch on talented players," he nods.
"We have a lot of tough series coming up and it'll be an interesting period for all of us.
"My job is not to change for the sake of change or be too heavy handed. I am sure the schemes that are in place are working well otherwise you can't be the second best team in the world. Sri Lanka have a good leader in Mahela (Jayawardene) who is respected by everyone. In fact the whole team is respected," he acknowledged.
Last came the big question of what does it take to match world's top team, and can Sri Lanka achieve this?
"Certainly it can't be done overnight. It is professionalism and attitude that make Australia such a good team and it takes time to develop these qualities. I can see Tom (Moody) has worked hard to put a process in place and things are snugly fitting into this process."
Ten years as a state player for the Blues and a similar period coaching has toughened him, but there is the impression he is flexible as well. His first task is to prepare Sri Lanka for the marshmallow event, the ICC twenty/20 slogs, as if the game needs another tournament. After that there are series against England (at home) and Australia (away).
"All tough assignments, but an interesting challenge," he agrees.
Trevor Chesterfield