Bayliss's first series in charge is against England in October

BBC Sport speaks to the former New South Wales player and coach about his plans for the job and his thoughts on his new team.

Q. Congratulations on your appointment with Sri Lanka. Is becoming an international coach the culmination of a life's work?

A. It's something I'm proud to achieve and it will certainly be different to coaching a state side. Ever since I finished my playing career in 1997, and probably for some time before that, it was a goal of mine to become a coach at domestic level in Australia.

Having done that, and having satisfied myself that I did it competently, the next step became an ambition. It's not something I thought I would definitely get the opportunity to do, but if the chance did arise I always knew I would take it.

Q. Are there any Sri Lanka players you are particularly looking forward to working with?

A. I couldn't single any one person out as there are a number of them I have observed and admired for many years. What I am excited about is working with a team that plays an attacking style of game.

I'm not going to tell some of the best players in the world how to cover-drive

They have a similar attitude in that regard to Australia and I think I will slot nicely into that. It will be fun working with a bunch of guys who share a similar outlook to cricket as myself.

Q. Sri Lanka boast a number of highly experienced cricketers. Will you be attempting to teach old dogs new tricks?

A. I'm not going to come in and tell some of the best players in the world how to play a cover-drive. I think my job will be to create the kind of environment that will allow the players to perform at their best. I've spoken with Tom Moody and it's fair to say we share similarities in coaching style. I won't be trying to change anything.

Q. With several Sri Lanka players deep into the twilight of their careers, how will you go about making their transitional period as smooth as possible?

A. There will be one of two retirements in the next couple of years, so managing that will be a challenge. But it's something I experienced with New South Wales not so long ago when we lost Mark and Steve Waugh, Michael Slater and Michael Bevan in a short space of time. Hopefully that will stand me in good stead.

What I found is that it is the players who take it upon themselves to cover the losses and adapt to a new environment. What turnover does is allow a number of young players who are on the fringe to step up and show if they have what it takes to play at the highest level. It's my job to take the pressure off them and give them everything they need to perform at their best.

Q. How long do you think Muttiah Muralitharan can keep going?

A. I spoke with him on the phone very briefly a couple of weeks ago, but that's the only contact I've had with him. The answer is, I don't know. I read somewhere the other day that he could keep playing for another four years. The fact is he is still taking plenty of wickets, and as long as he does that he'll play for as long as he wants to.

Q. Moody, by all accounts, did a good job with Sri Lanka. Do you feel you have big shoes to fill?

A. Yes, but one thing I've always adhered to is I will never try to be something I'm not. I'm not going to change the way I go about things to try to live up to other people's expectations. I must have faith in my own ability and technique to do the job.

Beating Australia in Australia would be a great achievement

I'll be approaching this job in the same way I've approached my cricket. If it becomes clear that my best isn't good enough, then so be it. The only way you will know is if you get on with it and back yourself. I am fairly confident that things will go well.

Q. What did you make of the first Test against Bangladesh? It must be heartening to hear Mahela Jayawardene say Sri Lanka are improving all the time.

A. I haven't been able to see any footage but I've been following it on the internet. They obviously did a great job to win so convincingly. The wicket-keeper, Prasanna Jayawardene, looks to be a promising player on the way up.

I believe Sri Lanka's form over the past 18 months has been quite good and there does look to be scope for better. I think the captain is well-regarded by opposition and team-mates alike and that is a good place to start.

Q. What long-term goals do you have in mind for Sri Lanka?

A. You always want to beat the best in the world, and beating Australia in Australia would be a great achievement. Not many teams have done that stretching back a long way. That would be the pinnacle, and we'll get a chance to do that later in the year.

Q. What about your own ambitions? Would you like to coach Australia one day?