Trevor Bayliss, the coach who masterminded England's historic 2019 Cricket World Cup triumph, has delivered a frank assessment of the recent Ashes series, labelling it "a disappointment" and suggesting fundamental differences in sporting mentality have given Australia the edge.
A Disappointing Series and a Youth System Built for Finals
Speaking from Sydney, where he is currently coaching the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, Bayliss admitted he had expected a far tighter contest. The Australian holds a 3-1 lead heading into the final Test at the SCG, a margin that surprised the former England boss, who had predicted a 3-2 result.
"I genuinely thought it would be more competitive; that it would go deeper and maybe even get to a decider here in Sydney," Bayliss revealed. While acknowledging the one-eyed desire of some fans to see a rout, he stated that true cricket lovers in Australia were hoping for a classic series that has ultimately failed to materialise.
Bayliss, awarded an OBE for his services to English cricket, pinpointed a crucial divergence in how English and Australian cricketers are forged. He believes the Australian system, from the youngest ages, creates players who are "more robust" and better equipped to handle high-pressure moments.
"Maybe it comes down to the cricket you play growing up," he mused. "Right from under-eights – and it doesn’t matter what sport – you play finals to decide trophies... You can go through an entire season undefeated and still lose the final. Because of the pyramid system we have in place, the cream of this just rises to the top."
Parallels with 'Bazball' and a Changing of the Guard
Despite the current imbalance, Bayliss avoided adding his voice to those criticising England's preparation. However, he did lament the broader loss of competitive tour matches against state sides, recalling his own playing days with New South Wales where the explicit goal was to undermine touring teams before a Test series began.
Looking at England's current approach under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, Bayliss sees clear parallels with the transformative, aggressive mindset he and Eoin Morgan instilled in the ODI side. He stressed that his philosophy was always about a positive, run-seeking mindset leading to good decisions, not reckless abandon.
"I love Stokesy. He’s got such a strong character and is a sort of follow-me type," Bayliss said of his former charge. "Unfortunately, there haven’t been too many able to follow him on this occasion." He also suggested the 'Bazball' label has been unhelpful, though he admired how it got into Australian minds during the 2023 home Ashes.
Peering into the future, Bayliss offered England a significant glimmer of hope. He suggested the Ashes could change hands in the 2027 series in England, noting the advancing age of Australia's current golden generation and a potential decline in output.
"I don’t know how many of this Australia team will still be playing a couple of years from now," he stated. "No one ever retires at the top of their game." While praising exciting talent in Australia's Under-19s, he questioned whether the next crop in their mid-20s would reach the heights of the current stalwarts.
A Coach's View from the Sidelines
Now removed from the international arena, Bayliss is content in his role with Sydney Thunder. He praised Andrew McDonald's work as Australia's head coach and reflected that he might have been in that role himself, having been interviewed after Justin Langer's departure.
As he prepares to watch the final Test at the SCG, likely unnoticed by most England fans, one aspect of the modern game does rankle: the partisanship of commentary. He fondly recalled the neutral style of the legendary Richie Benaud, contrasting it with today's more overtly partisan voices.
For Bayliss, the series concludes with Australia's ingrained toughness in decisive sessions proving the defining difference, a quality seeded deep in the grass roots of the game down under.
