On July 14 this year, Lord's witnessed history. For the first time ever, a World Cup final was tied after 100 overs being bowled followed by a tie in the deciding Super Over.
England lifted the 2019 World Cup on boundary count, leading to contrasting images -- jubilation for the host and pure agony for New Zealand.
The world hailed Ben Stokes. England celebrated. There was gratitude, there was discipline and most importantly there was mutual respect.
This was only possible because of a 56-year-old coach who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. He was approached after England's devastating 2015 World Cup campaign.
Trevor Bayliss stitched the wounds of a disappointing campaign and in a span of four years turned around the fortunes of English cricket and guided them to a maiden World title.
"Its history, isn't it," said Bayliss, who was here to attend the Abu Dhabi T10 players' draft.
Bayliss was appointed as coach of Team Abu Dhabi for the upcoming third edition of the T10 league. Despite his accomplishments, the Australian feels he is yet to get acclimatised with the new format.
"Well from my point of view, to be honest, it's very new. Having only coached T20 in the past, I will be also new to this (T10) as well. There are some very good players in the draft and I am sure the eight teams will be very good," Bayliss said.
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England had scored 24 boundaries in its innings, compared to New Zealand's 16, which eventually proved vital.
Commenting on the new change of rules, Bayliss said: "That's fair enough. Whatever rules the governing body has for any competition, rules to be played to. In the World Cup, everyone knew what the rules were and it's not that we made up the rules in the last moment. We were just lucky enough to end on the winning side."
Impeccable Record
Bayliss is a man who boasts of an incredible track record. He took Sri Lanka to a World Cup final and then a World T20 victory. His acumen of picking players was clearly visible when he insisted in having star all-rounder Moeen Ali as the icon player.
He then beefed up the team by snapping Pakistan left-arm pacer, Mohammad Amir.
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Although the head coach didn't reveal the strategy completely behind the pickings, he dropped a hint that T10 won't be a batsman's game.
"If you have got five very good bowlers you might have to score just 50 runs to win. Teams might pick a team full of bowlers, five very good bowlers you might to score as many runs," Bayliss reasoned.
Proven Track Record
Teams have benefitted from Bayliss' expertise in the shortest formats of the game. It was under Bayliss' watch when Kolkata Knight Riders won two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.
He was instrumental in helping Sydney Sixers lift the Big Bash League trophy and in the same year it went on to win the now-defunct Champions League T20.
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When asked if there is a difference in approach, he said: "No I haven't studied it. Probably take out the middle 10 overs of the T20 match! (laughs) It's only 10 overs and we have seen batters go pretty hard straight up.
"Batters have been on the top in the last couple of seasons and bowlers play catch-up and they get even better and they work out how to get back in the game and we will get to see that in T10 cricket."
IPL Challenge
Along with the T10 league, Bayliss is also gearing up for the IPL as he replaces fellow Australian Tom Moody as coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Under Moody, Sunrisers won IPL in 2016, ended runners-up in 2018 and made the play-offs in 2019.
"I am always excited to come to India. I was there with KKR for four years and then I am looking forward with Sunrisers Hyderabad," Bayliss said.
He doesn't believe in schooling players. And Ben Stokes is the latest product from the Bayliss school of coaching.
"From the coaches point of view, it's all about helping the players realise their dream of playing cricket. Playing the game and enjoying," Bayliss signed off.
The writer is in Abu Dhabi at the invitation of Abu Dhabi T10 League
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