Trevor Bayliss named new Knight Riders coach

Trevor Bayliss, the former Sri Lanka coach, has been named as Kolkata Knight Riders' new head coach, replacing Dav Whatmore who stepped down two days ago.

"We are pleased to welcome Trevor Bayliss as our head coach," Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of the Knight Riders, said in a press release. "With his rich experience, very successful track record and knowledge of the conditions in the subcontinent, we believe he is the right person to take KKR to the next level of performance."

Bayliss, 49, will be the third coach of the Knight Riders, after John Buchanan and Whatmore. "I have followed the IPL and KKR's performance and I am honored to become part of this team," Bayliss said, "which has already built a reputation as a very popular & professional franchise."

Bayliss had been in charge of the Sri Lankan team for four years before resigning following their run to the 2011 World Cup final. He had also guided them to the final of the World Twenty20 in 2009. As coach of New South Wales until 2006-07, he helped the Blues win a Pura Cup title as well as a domestic one-day trophy. He isn't new to the world of Twenty20 franchise cricket either, and is currently in charge of the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League tournament in Australia. The BBL appointment came after he missed out to Anthony Stuart on a mentoring assignment with the New South Wales team.