Australian Trevor Bayliss is reportedly included among the four candidates in contention for the position of England's new head coach following the team's humiliating 45-run defeat by minnows the Netherlands at the World Twenty20.
England's dismal winter, including a 5-0 Ashes loss to Australia, was capped by their thrashing for 88 by a Dutch bowling attack, leading to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) interviewing potential successors to Andy Flower, who resigned as head coach after the Ashes whitewash.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, although limited-overs coach Ashley Giles is still in contention, his position is no longer superior given the arrival of Sydney Sixers and Kolkata Knight Riders coach Bayliss, former England head coach Peter Moores and Nottinghamshire coach Mick Newell, on the scene.
The report mentioned that Bayliss, who would be the first Australian to coach England, has emerged as the surprise name on the shortlist as he lacks playing experience at the top level, although he has enjoyed coaching success in both domestic and international cricket and in all formats of the game.
Bayliss, who had a modest playing career, has led Sri Lanka to the one-day World Cup final in 2011 and coached Kolkata to the IPL title in 2012, although he lacks the knowledge of the English game and the county system, the report added.