There is a temptation to celebrate too much after England’s victory over Sri Lanka and their rare qualification for an ICC semi-final and Trevor Bayliss is well aware of that.
England’s phlegmatic, easy-going, drawling, adopted Aussie, who has a habit of improving cricket teams somehow, had a simple message on the morning after, which he was going to impart to his players as soon as they reconvened for practice before tomorrow’s semi-final against New Zealand.
The mood at the team hotel among wealthier supporters, ECB officials and even gnarled old pressmen was one of congratulation that England had progressed so far. But this was not Bayliss’s state of mind.
“We haven’t won anything yet,” he said. “It’s like a mini-tournament starting again now. Let’s not go over the top. No one ever remembers the runners-up or the semi-finalists. It’s a good achievement but let’s keep everything in perspective. It’s just a semi-final we’ve reached.”
Bayliss does not seem to get carried away by anything. Occasionally he raises an eyebrow sitting in the T20 dugout under his ever-present, broad-brimmed, white floppy hat. He must be a nightmare for TV directors who have grown accustomed to switching their cameras towards Jurgen Klopp or Jose Mourinho.
Bayliss’s impassive exterior may reflect his character but there is also an element of calculation, which he acknowledges. “Sitting there I’m like everyone else, churning up inside. But if the players look to the bench–or if we’re batting and they look left or right–and they see the coach is a nervous wreck, it doesn’t make it any easier for them.”
In this tournament England’s performances have not been suitable for those of a nervous disposition. So far every game has swung to and fro violently, creating some terrific cricketing theatre–for the neutral observer. For a while there seemed to be a chance of a comfortable, textbook win against Sri Lanka and then Angelo Mathews got going.
“Coaches are always looking for that absolutely perfect game but I don’t think it’s ever been played,” mused Bayliss.
He may ooze pragmatism and cricketing common sense, but England’s coach is also prepared to give due credit to his players. Once again a Jos Buttler innings was crucial.
“There aren’t too many guys around the world who can hit the ball 360 degrees like he can,” he said. “He’s a little like AB de Villiers and hopefully in the years to come his record will be very similar.”
Then he noted the understated role Buttler played in partnership with Joe Root in the run-chase against South Africa. “He also knows how to play the situation. He knew Joe was in a good spot and so he just knocked the ball around.”
Naturally he backed his captain, Eoin Morgan, who has yet to deliver a major innings. “It’s very difficult to get him flustered (somehow it is no surprise that this should impress Bayliss). I’m sure he’d have liked to score more runs so far but we may have two games left and that’s when the good players stand up.”
He was also quick to support Adil Rashid, who suffered at the hands of Mathews on Saturday. “He’s one of our x-factors. He hasn’t taken a bagful of wickets but we’ll be playing a different opposition in a few days’ time. I’m not overly worried about him. We probably got our lengths a little bit wrong against good players of spin, over-pitching a fraction.”
The yearning to bowl fuller at Mathews was easy to understand as both Rashid and Moeen Ali wanted to prevent him having the leverage to hit the ball into the stands, which proved to be a forlorn desire.
However, Bayliss intimated that England know their best team when playing in Delhi, which is the XI that was selected for the Sri Lanka match even though the spinners were so expensive. That side most definitely includes Liam Plunkett now.
“We set him the target in the UAE of trying to work on his slower balls and cutters to try to get his performance to another level,” Bayliss said. “He went away to the nets when he wasn’t playing and worked on it day-in, day-out. Now he’s deserved his spot and bowled extremely well.”
There may be a slight advantage in playing New Zealand in Delhi. England know the conditions here now, while the Kiwis have played all four of their games on turning tracks, with their two young spinners, Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, excelling.
By the same token, if England do make the final in Kolkota they will probably be in alien territory on the first turning track that they have encountered in the tournament.
From afar Bayliss has admired New Zealand’s ability to adapt to conditions, leaving their most notable two pacemen, Trent Boult and Tim Southee, out of the team. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” he said, “but New Zealand have got a very working-class mentality. They’re hard grinders; they’ll do what they need to win. They’ve always been like that, whether it’s rugby or cricket. So they’re going to be very difficult to beat.”
However, Bayliss says they can be beaten. “On your day in T20 cricket anyone can win. We are down to the last four so we have a chance to win. The other three teams will be thinking the same and they have been playing very good cricket. So it’s certainly not going to get any easier.”
It’s not quite an Alf Ramsey
moment but Bayliss has not ruled
out England coming home with the trophy.