England have turned the corner, insists Sky Sports pundit
Friday 29 May 2015 11:00, UK
Sir Ian Botham is backing new coach Trevor Bayliss and his assistant Paul Farbrace to rekindle their successful partnership and revitalise English cricket.
The 52-year-old Australian was confirmed as Peter Moores' replacement on Tuesday and takes the reins next month ahead of the start of the Ashes.
Bayliss, the current coach of New South Wales, has a reputation of being a one-day specialist after guiding Sri Lanka to the 2011 World Cup final and he has also had success in the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders as well as with Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash.
The Sky Sports cricket commentator said: "I don't know too much about him but he's been around and his record speaks for itself.
"The Sri Lankan boys speak highly of him and say when he was there, with Paul Farbrace, they formed a great combination.
"He's a great coach, very pragmatic and straightforward. You don't see a great deal of him when the game gets under way, he does all his work in the nets.
"It's a new era and I wish him all the very best but we need to let him get on with doing the job now."
The former England skipper feels the side have turned the corner after the recent upheaval and was full of praise for the performance of young stars Durham stars Ben Stokes, debutant Mark Wood and Joe Root in the 124-run first Test victory over New Zealand at Lord's.
Stokes won the man-of-the-match award after a brilliant 85-ball century - the fastest ever at Lord's - to follow up a first innings 92 which helped rescue England from trouble on the first morning when they were reduced to 30-4. He also grabbed three second-innings wickets as the Black Caps were bowled out on the final day.
Root continued his magnificent form with a 98 in the first innings and 84 in the second, while fast bowler Wood marked his long-awaited debut with four wickets in the match and troubled most of the New Zealand batsmen.
Botham said: "Stokes and Wood were exceptional. I thought they both played brilliantly, not only them but Joe Root was also excellent.
"That Root and Stokes partnership when England were in trouble, the combination of Wood and Stokes in the bowling gives England another dimension. Wood's pace gives the bowling another three or four miles an hour.
"Stokes is now oozing confidence. His 92 followed by a hundred in the second innings, that was very special.
"It just highlights what a ridiculous decision it was not to play (Adam) Lyth in the West Indies or give Wood a run has been proven to be big mistakes and that's why things have changed."
Botham added: “England have turned the corner. It's a new era, they have a new coach in place, new players are being given a chance, it's got to be positive for English cricket."
Watch the opening day of the second Test live on Sky Sports 2 at 10.30am on Friday.
