LONDON: Following the death of Shane Warne, Trevor Bayliss has been named interim men’s head coach of the London Spirit in English cricket’s Hundred league.

Former Australia leg-spinner turned coach Warne died in Thailand in March, aged 52, of a suspected heart attack, prompting shock and mourning throughout the cricket world.

Bayliss’ appointment reunites the Australian with Spirit captain Eoin Morgan, who together led England to the 2019 50-over World Cup triumph with a thrilling victory over New Zealand at Lord’s, his new team’s home ground.

Last year’s first season of the Hundred, a new 100-ball per side format that is even shorter than Twenty20 cricket, Warne was the Spirit’s coach.

Despite the fact that the Spirit finished last in the eight-team league, Bayliss, 59, was anticipated to return, stating in a statement: “It is obviously very bittersweet to take the role given the circumstances.”

“It is an honour to try and build on the work Warnie started. The side knew what he and Eoin were trying to build and I hope we can do that this year,” added the experienced coach, who will charge for one year initially.

Trevor Bayliss coached England in both red and white ball forms for four years and was also in charge of Sri Lanka from 2007 to 2011.

He also led Sydney Sixers to the inaugural Big Bash Twenty20 title in 2011/12, as well as winning the Indian Premier League twice with Kolkata Knight Riders, the world’s most lucrative domestic T20 franchise league.

Bayliss has coached Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash since leaving England three years ago.

Fraser Stewart, London Spirit team manager, said: “We were so lucky to work with Shane last year and we hope that the team will play in a style that he would have been proud of this summer.”

The Spirit had the first pick in the Hundred’s player draught on Monday, with the results to be announced on Tuesday.

They will look to recruit two overseas players to a roster that currently features Morgan, Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, and a trio of England Test players in batsman Zak Crawley and Dan Lawrence, as well as fast bowler Mark Wood.

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