Trevor Bayliss has reportedly leapfrogged front-runner Jason Gillespie and is set to be appointed England's new coach if he accepts the offer.
The consensus has been that the England and Wales Cricket Board would recruit Yorkshire's county championship-winning coach - and former Australia fast bowler - Gillespie in time for this summer's Ashes.
But instead, according to a report on the Daily Telegraph website on Monday, new ECB director of cricket Andrew Strauss has chosen another Australian.
The 52-year-old Bayliss is less well-known than his compatriot but has a fine coaching pedigree having led New South Wales to two Sheffield Shield titles, helped Sri Lanka to the 2011 World Cup final and won the Indian Premier League with Kolkata Knight Riders.
He is also a former colleague of current England caretaker coach Paul Farbrace, when they were both with Sri Lanka.
There has been no comment as yet from the ECB.
However, former England captain Michael Vaughan told the BBC's Test Match Special: "Trevor Bayliss is a coach I know England were looking at last year, after Andy Flower lost his position.
"He has a good track record, but it would be a big surprise.
"You look at Jason Gillespie's pedigree - he's in our system and took Yorkshire to the title.
"He was a part of one of the greatest teams in Australia.
"Would Trevor Bayliss be a good coach for England? His pedigree says he would."
Source: PA
