Bayliss named new coach of SL

Australian Trevor Bayliss has been named as the new coach of Sri Lanka, replacing fellow Aussie Tom Moody at the helm.

Bayliss, the current coach of New South Wales, has been offered a two year contract by Sri Lanka to start in August. Bayliss had a fine first-class career with NSW, playing in 58 matches together with 50 List A games, but was never able to force his way into the national side.

Bayliss becomes the fifth Australian to have coached Sri Lanka, in a distinguished list that includes Moody, Dav Whatmore, Bruce Yardley and John Dyson who have all been involved in taking Sri Lanka from strength to strength.

“He has impressed everybody,” Sri Lanka’s media manager said today.

“When we knew how good he was and so we signed him up immediately because there are a lot of countries head hunting for coaches at present. Trevor will have to give New South Wales six weeks notice before he can start on his new contract,” Sri Lankan secretary Kanangan Mathivanan said.

Bayliss gets the job in front of other candidates and fellow Australians Steve Rixon and Terry Oliver.