Tuesday 9 January 2018 16:42, UK
Trevor Bayliss will not renew his contract as England head coach when it expires in September 2019 following another home Ashes series.
Bayliss insisted the 4-0 Ashes defeat, which was confirmed with this week's crushing loss in Sydney, had no bearing on a decision that had long been made and it had never been his intention to stay longer.
"I told Andrew Strauss (director of England cricket) probably 12 months ago that September 2019 is when I'm contracted to and that would see me out," he said.
"I've never been anywhere any more than four or five years. Whether you're going well or not I've always felt that round about that four-year mark is time to change. A new voice, a slightly different approach slightly reinvigorates things, so I passed that on to him 12 months ago."
Bayliss' decision to announce his plans to leave so early means he will oversee much of the rebuilding operation for another series down under in four years time without being there to see it through.
But the 55-year-old put the responsibility of an improved performance firmly in the hands of captain Joe Root.
"I've got no problem working towards a long-term goal even if I'm not going to be there," said Bayliss.
"You leave a coaching position hopefully with the team in a better place than when you started. Joe Root as the captain will still be there and there's a base of six or seven players that will still be young and good enough to be in the team.
The captain is in charge, but we're there to help out.
"The captain is in charge, but we're there to help out. Joe is a young captain and I would expect in four years when he comes back, with another four years' experience and an away Ashes under his belt, he'll feel a lot more comfortable."
Major changes are not expected for the Test squad which will travel to New Zealand next month, and Bayliss has warned not to expect an instant turnaround from his side.
"It's not going to be an overnight success. If you bring three or four young blokes into the team it will be a slower process as they learn what the international game is about," he said.
"It's about slowly getting them involved, not necessarily in the team but around the squad to begin with and filtering them into the team when positions become available or when they force their way in.
"If it is to occur that we're not necessarily as successful as we'd like to be because we're blooding some young players it's about being able to take it on the chin. Hopefully everybody realises we are heading in a certain direction."
