Joe Root hopes the reputation and achievements of Trevor Bayliss, the new coach, will start rubbing off on England’s national side quickly.
With Bayliss set to take charge formally before the Ashes series, England enter a new era of sorts, given the 52-year-old will be the first Australian to take charge. 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 Sri Lanka, New South Wales and the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Speaking as England prepare for Friday’s second Test against New Zealand at Headingley, Root told Sky Sports: “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.
“I think [nine] of the Australia [Ashes] squad he’s worked with before in New South Wales so that obviously 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 are favourites to clinch the ongoing Test series 2-0, after the Lord’s Test was wrapped up in dramatic fashion this week.
New heroes emerged in Ben Stokes and Mark Wood, the former hitting the quickest Test century at Lord’s, even as Alastair Cook held down one end with a big century under immense pressure.
Root is particularly pleased with the manner of Stokes’s rise and backed him for more, saying: “He’s at the start of his career. He’s a very exciting prospect. 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.”
