WELLINGTON: England coach Trevor Bayliss has urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to consider hiring a specialist coach for their Twenty20 team and nominated his assistant Paul Farbrace for the role.

Bayliss, who said last month that he will not lead England beyond his current deal until 2019, reckons a coaching position for the shortest format should be considered as part of plans for the World T20 tournament in 2020.

When asked if a specific T20 coach should be in place before his departure, Bayliss said: “The short answer is probably ‘yes’. Eventually you will have specialist coaches as well (as players). That will obviously be a discussion with higher levels, with [ECB director of cricket] Andrew Strauss and people like that.

“Obviously, Paul Farbrace, I think, would do a grand job. When I was a number two, years ago, a bloke said to me the role of the number two is to make the number one look good. I think he’s done a good job in that respect.”

England were knocked out of the T20 tri-series on Sunday after a win against New Zealand was not enough to proceed to the final against Australia in Auckland on Wednesday.

Bayliss said he has been considering stepping down as T20 coach because of the increasing demands of the job across the three formats.

“From the start of May last year, I think we have 21 months of cricket out of 23 and we’re halfway through that,” he added. “It’s tough and that’s what we’re paid for and we love doing it. But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

England will face host New Zealand in the first of their five-match One-day International series in Hamilton on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2018