Trevor Bayliss to skip Sydney Thunder game for IPL 2024 auction

Trevor Bayliss, Sydney Thunder's head coach, will be absent from his team's Big Bash League (BBL) encounter against Adelaide Strikers on December 19. He is set to represent Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction, which is scheduled in Dubai.

This won't be the first time Bayliss has left the BBL to attend the IPL auction as he also travelled to India during the 2022-23 BBL for the same reason. However, other coaches like Daniel Vettori has already flown to Dubai after Australia's Test victory over Pakistan at the Optus Stadium to take up responsibilities as Sunrisers Hyderabad's new coach. Ricky Ponting, the coach of Delhi Capitals, adjusted his commentary commitments while Justin Langer, the new head coach of Lucknow Super Giants, postponed his travel plans until after the first Test.

Bayliss assumed the role of Thunder's coach for the 2021-22 BBL season and successfully led the team to the playoffs in both seasons under his guidance. In his absence, Shawn Bradstreet, the assistant coach, will step in as the interim head coach.

"Bayliss is due to return for the Thunder's clash against Melbourne Stars in Albury later this week," Sydney Thunder said in a statement as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. 

Punjab Kings have a substantial budget of INR 29.1 crore for the auction. This will provide them with the flexibility to add eight more players to their squad, including the option to sign two overseas players. Bayliss was appointed by the Kings in 2022, who, unfortunately, couldn't lead them to qualify for the knockout stages of the IPL 2023. This marked the ninth consecutive season in which the team fell short of reaching the playoffs.

"We don't think we need to strengthen up a whole heap. But I suppose the possibility of strengthening in two or three areas we think will make us a stronger team next year… We want to play a positive, aggressive brand of cricket so we're looking for players to come into those two or three spots with that type of mindset," Bayliss told Kings' in-house channels.