“Everywhere he’s gone he’s been successful”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

England captain Alastair Cook is raring to meet and start working with newly appointed head coach Trevor Bayliss.

Bayliss coached Sri Lanka, the Sydney Sixers, the Kolkata Knight Riders and New South Wales before agreeing to become Peter Moores’ successor.

The 52-year-old also coached Australia during their 2-1 win over South Africa in a Twenty20 series in November 2014.

With the Ashes hovering over the horizon, Cook will be eager to get to know Bayliss and pick his brains about the Australian team.

“Trevor has experience in all forms of the game, he’s a successful coach, everywhere he’s gone he’s been successful,” Cook told Sky Sports at Headingley. “His one-day record is very good as well so it will be interesting to hear his ideas on that side.

“I don’t really know him that well. I played against his Sri Lankan team and I had a beer with (New Zealand captain) Brendon (McCullum) and the New Zealand guys after the first Test and he spoke very highly of him. Everyone I’ve spoken to about him seems to rate him.

“It’s obviously, for England, a great coup to have him in terms of his experience, certainly of Australian players, but just of the world game as well. I think the guys are looking forward to him turning up, getting to meet him and seeing what he says about things.”

Meanwhile, Cook is also confident that England can whitewash New Zealand 2-0 after having won the first Test at Lord’s by 124 runs.

“It was just a really good week for everyone,” Cook said. “The challenge for us players is can we back up a great performance, especially the last three days of that Test match, at Headingley and try and win the series?”