Sri Lanka's new coach to follow Moody's tactics

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's new coach Trevor Bayliss will let his team play their naturally attacking style of cricket, a strategy that clicked for his predecessor Tom Moody.

Bayliss, who took over from fellow Australian Moody after the World Cup in April, said he will continue the tactics that helped Sri Lanka reach the final of the cricketing extravaganza.

"Sri Lanka have been successful with their attacking style. Not a lot will change as they have proved successful during the last 18 months or so," Bayliss said.

Under Moody, the Sri Lankans shed their tag of poor travellers by drawing Test series in New Zealand and England besides their runners-up finish at the World Cup.

The immediate challenge for Bayliss, 44, and Mahela Jayawardene's team would be the World Twenty20 championships to be played in South Africa from September 11-24.

Bayliss said Sri Lanka's style of aggressive shot-making suited the slam-bang format of Twenty20 perfectly.

Bayliss's support staff includes assistant Paul Farbrace and trainer Jade Roberts.

Farbrace, a former director of coaching at English county side Kent, was handpicked by Bayliss to replace Trevor Penney.