Sydney Thunder coach Trevor Bayliss has stated that throughout his coaching career, high ranking cricket executives have rarely entered the change room and never discussed tactics with team members.
Bayliss’ comments come after David Warner’s manager, James Erskine, made startling revelations on SEN. Erskine alleged that two Cricket Australia (CA) executives instructed players to tamper with the ball following their embarrassing defeat to South Africa in Hobart of 2016.
Bayliss, who coached England during the 2017/18 Ashes series, said that the dressing room is the domain of the players and not for cricket officials to voice their concerns.
“That dressing room is for the players and the coaching staff,” Bayliss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Certainly with the teams that I have coached, I can’t remember (executives being there).
“Every now and then someone might pop their head in but certainly nothing to do with tactics.
“I haven’t been involved with the Australian team but I’d be surprised if it’s not pretty much the same as the teams that I have coached.
“(Tactics) are the domain of the captain and the coaching staff.”
Erskine’s comments are the latest in the ongoing drama between Warner and CA following Warner’s decision to withdraw his appeal over his lifetime captaincy ban.
Warner will feature in the Big Bash this summer for the Sydney Thunder and Bayliss said that the Thunder were keeping all options on the table pending Warner’s appeal.
“There hadn’t been a decision on whether he could or couldn’t captain,” Bayliss continued.
“We thought we’d leave it until it got down the track.
“If that decision was favourable (for Warner), then we’d make a decision.
“Having Dave there, even if he’s not captain, he’s a leader and he’ll give Jason (Sangha) as much help as he possibly can.”
The Thunder will open the new Big Bash season when they host the Melbourne Stars at Manuka Oval in Canberra on December 13.