Quantcast

Bayliss unfazed by Pietersen exile

New England coach is focusing on bonding with his new side in Spain ahead of the Ashes

Incoming England coach Trevor Bayliss has refused to be drawn into the controversy surrounding Kevin Pietersen's Ashes selection omission.

Bayliss dodged answering whether he wanted Pietersen in the squad before flying out of Sydney to take charge of the team ahead of the series starting on July 8.

"Look, apparently, he's unavailable for selection, so that's all I know at this stage," Bayliss told Fox Sports at Sydney Airport.

"He is a good batter but at this stage he is unavailable, so that's all I know."

England and Wales Cricket Board Director of Cricket Andrew Strauss shut the door on Pietersen’s comeback to international cricket in May, confirming the exiled batsman was not in the ECB’s short-term plans.

Strauss praised the tall right-hander on his record-breaking career, but said trust issues between the two parties could not be fixed overnight.

Pietersen said he was “hurt and angry” at Strauss’s decision, the day after posting his highest first-class score of 355no for county team Surrey.

But Pietersen hasn’t given up hope on representing the Three Lions in the future.

In his column for The Telegraph UK last month, Pietersen wrote: "I want to be clear, I am not retiring from England."

"I still believe I can bat in that team and win games of cricket for England.

"And we have seen recently how fragile that batting order can be."

But Bayliss will not have to worry about Pietersen in first series as England coach, and will spend four days bonding with his new team in camp in Spain.

He said he was looking forward to getting to know the players and said the team had a chance of winning the series.

"It's been quite exciting, the series against New Zealand, the Tests and the one-dayers - got some new, young players in there with plenty of skill, plenty of enthusiasm," he said.

"I'm confident of putting up a good show and, if they play some good cricket, they'll be a chance of winning."

The 52-year-old has coached NSW Blues, Sydney Sixers and Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to glory, and says he won’t be changing his approach with England.

"I’m looking forward to it, to be involved in an Ashes series, it will be some good fun," he said.

"I'll just be doing things the way I normally do with any of the cricket teams I've been involved in and hopefully that means England playing some good cricket.

"Hopefully two teams playing some good cricket and a win-win for the game of cricket."