England coach Bayliss backs Farbrace to make step up from deputy

Bayliss confirmed last month he would be leaving when his existing deal expires in September 2019, kicking off an early bout of speculation about who might take over.

Recently-appointed Three Lions bowling coach Chris Silverwood, the Pontefract-born former White Rose bowler also has his admirers after steering Essex to the Specsavers County Championship last season.

Highly-successful former Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie has long been linked and is back in the English game with Sussex and Paul Collingwood ranks highly among the next generation.

But Bayliss is looking even closer to home and would like to see his long-term lieutenant get the chance. Asked if he should consider grooming his replacement, Bayliss said: “The short answer is probably yes.

“Obviously I think Paul Farbrace, as the assistant, would do a grand job. He’s had experience around the world now with Sri Lanka and England, I think he’d do a good job.

“If that’s a possibility down the line, so be it. We work pretty closely together anyway. If that’s what they wanted to do – I don’t think it would be too much of a problem at all.”

Farbrace has a slender CV as top dog, with a disappointing spell at Kent his only permanent senior post.

He did leave a strong impression in 2015 when placed in interim charge of England’s series against New Zealand following Peter Moores’s sacking and Bayliss does not see any reason why he should not step up.

“When I was a number two years ago, a bloke said to me ‘the role of the number two is to make the number one look good’ and I think he’s done a good job in that respect,” said the Australian. “He’s very well respected among the group of players, he knows the England system very well.

“He’s a very personable guy, has a good relationship with the players and he’s a good coach.”

The Australian went even further by suggesting he was open to the idea of passing on responsibility for the Twenty20 team sooner rather than later.

After England bowed out of the Tri-Series, despite victory over New Zealand in Hamilton, Bayliss reiterated his belief that the shortest format should not be part of the international calendar and played exclusively by domestic franchises.

That effectively leaves him doing a job he feels should not exist and brings the question of a split coaching team back on the table.

“That will obviously be a discussion with higher levels,” he added. “If that was what they thought was the way to go ahead, I’d be all for it. If not, I am more than happy to keep going and work towards that next T20 World Cup.”