Bayliss part of 'Aussie trio' to coach Sri Lanka

Sydney, Jun 6 (UNI) Former New South Wales (NSW) all-rounder Trevor Bayliss is a part of the Aussie trio shorlisted by the Sri Lankan cricket officials to coach their national side.

Bayliss, whose contract with the NSW ends in 2009, is due to be interviewed by the Sri Lankan officials in Colombo on June 14, where he is expected to get tough competition from assistant coach of Australia, Jamie Siddons and Queensland head coach Terry Oliver.

The 44-year-old all-rounder has already turned down two big offers -- one from the Australia's Centre of Excellence and the other from Bangladesh -- to fill in the shoes of countrymen Tom Moody.

''It's a job with an international team, and one of the better international teams, so you'd be nuts not to hear them out,'' Bayliss was told 'The Sydney Morning Herald', adding, ''And if something was offered, you'd be silly to knock it back.'' He also revealed that he had a chat with Moody, who recently quit from the post after taking the Lankans in the Caribbean World Cup final.

''I spoke to Tom (Moody) about a week ago just to find out what I can expect in the interview. So now it's just a case of going over and seeing what they have to say,'' Bayliss said.

Meanwhile, the former Australian first class player's current employer, Cricket NSW, has confirmed if he is offered, they will not stop him taking up the job.

''We won't be standing in the way of Trevor,'' chief executive of NSW Dave Gilbert said.

''If he wants to prove himself on the international stage, we will stand aside. We don't want to lose him, but we realise he is very ambitious, and in the long term he wants to coach Australia.

''Coaching another international side would be a big step towards that goal,'' he added.

UNI