Trevor Bayliss urges Joe Root not to make himself available for IPL
Wednesday 10 January 2018 00:23, UK
Trevor Bayliss says he has urged Joe Root not to make himself available for the 2018 Indian Premier League auction.
Ahead of a busy international schedule in 2018, England's head coach wants his captain to keep himself as fresh as possible.
England have limited overs matches still to play in Australia, having already lost the Ashes series 4-0, as well as a tour of New Zealand starting in March.
They also host several matches this summer, including Pakistan and India in Test series, leading Bayliss to warn Root that he risks burning himself out.
He said: "We had that discussion a few days ago, I suggested to him that he shouldn't play, that he should have a break.
"He feels that whenever he's had a break in the last couple of years, it's always been a T20 series. He wants to play in 50-over World Cups and T20 World Cups.
"He thinks if he keeps missing all the T20 cricket he's just going to fall behind and not be up to speed when those come along.
"It's just a Catch-22 situation. There are difficult decisions to make. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't."
Bayliss, who announced on Tuesday he would step down from his role when his contract expires in September 2019, has several proposals to avoid a repeat of England's heavy defeat down under.
The Australian is keen for the Kookaburra to be adopted by the County Championship, to make English players more comfortable with the ball used in Australia.
Bayliss also likes the idea of England's developments sides touring more overseas, to allow them to become more accustomed to conditions away from home.