Trevor Bayliss, the architect of England's historic 2019 Cricket World Cup triumph, has delivered a frank assessment of the ongoing Ashes series, labelling it a "bit of a disappointment" while pinpointing a crucial difference between the two rivals.
A Disappointing Series and a Cultural Divide
Speaking from Sydney, where he is coaching the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, the Australian-born former England coach admitted he expected a far tighter contest. "I actually tipped 3-2 to Australia," Bayliss revealed, having shared his prediction with Sussex supporters before the series began. He expressed a belief shared by many genuine cricket fans in Australia: a hope for a classic, hard-fought battle, not the one-sided affair that has unfolded with Australia holding a 3-1 lead ahead of the final Test.
While careful not to join the chorus criticising England's preparation, Bayliss, who was awarded an OBE for his services to English cricket, lamented the broader loss of competitive tour matches against state sides. He recalled his own playing days for New South Wales, where the explicit goal was to undermine touring teams early. "We never lost one of those games. And we won most of them," he stated, highlighting a traditional rite of passage now largely absent.
The 'In-Built' Australian Advantage
Bayliss's most compelling analysis, however, stems from his deep understanding of the Australian system. He believes a fundamental, cultural difference in how young players are forged has been evident in this series, particularly in pivotal moments.
"I think Australia have been pretty good in the big moments; better at seeing them coming and better at dealing with them when they do," he observed. "To a certain degree, I think that is a bit more in-built."
He traces this resilience back to the very foundations of junior sport in Australia. "Right from under-eights – and it doesn’t matter what sport – you play finals to decide trophies, not first-past-the-post in a league," Bayliss explained. This knockout mentality, where an undefeated season can still end in failure, creates a specific type of competitor. "Physically and mentally, I think the Aussies over the years probably have been a little bit more robust and they’re able to handle that pressure a bit better."
Future Hopes and 'Bazball' Parallels
Looking ahead, Bayliss offered England a glimmer of hope for the next Ashes encounter in England in 2027. He noted the advancing age of the current, "golden" Australian team and suggested that player output naturally declines towards the end of a career. "I think England will be a big chance," he predicted, while questioning whether the next generation of Australian talent would reach the same heights.
On the subject of England's current 'Bazball' era under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, Bayliss saw clear parallels with the transformative white-ball philosophy he and Eoin Morgan pioneered. He stressed that his own philosophy was always about a positive, run-seeking mindset leading to good decisions, not reckless abandon. "I knew we would have to pull back and do the hard yards at times," he said, citing the gritty World Cup final win as the perfect example.
He expressed admiration for both McCullum and, especially, Ben Stokes. "I love Stokesy. He’s got such a strong character and is a sort of follow-me type," Bayliss said. "Unfortunately, there haven’t been too many able to follow him on this occasion." He also questioned whether the aggressive approach would ever fully translate to Australian conditions.
As he prepares to watch the fifth Test at the SCG, likely unnoticed by most England fans, Bayliss signed off with a critique of modern commentary, yearning for the neutral style of the late Richie Benaud. His insights, however, remain squarely focused on the pitch, where he believes a systemic advantage continues to serve Australia well.
