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CRICKET-ENG-IND-BAYLISS
England still to decide if Stokes plays in third Test
NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom, Aug 16, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – England have yet to
decide if Ben Stokes will make his return to international action in the
third Test against India at Trent Bridge later this week.
The all-rounder was acquitted of affray at a trial in Bristol on Tuesday,
having missed England’s innings and 159-run win in the second Test at Lord’s
last week because it clashed with his court case.
England coach Trevor Bayliss welcomed Stokes’s return to the squad on
Thursday.
But neither England nor India are obliged to confirm their XIs until the
toss which, weather permitting, should take place before Saturday’s first day
in Nottingham.
Given they are 2-0 up in a five-match series, England face a more than
usually tricky decision over whether to change a winning side.
“It’s good to have him back around the squad. I’m happy for Ben and glad
it’s all over,” Bayliss told reporters at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
“I haven’t actually spoken to him since…but I’ve got the next two days
to assess where he’s at.”
The Australian added: “It’s a good position to be in. Whether he plays or
not we’ve got some guys in good form in the team.
“It’s a difficult decision whoever misses out, whether it’s Ben or anyone
else. It’s a position we’ve been trying to get into for a while.
“We have some good young players coming in.”
Explaining how Stokes was added to the squad after the not guily verdict,
Bayliss said: “It was a collective decision. Myself, the management, the
captain, Andy Flower, the board — everyone had a bit of a say and basically
thought for his (Stokes’s) own wellbeing it was good to get him back around
the cricket.
“There’s nothing automatic about selections, we’ll see how he is mentally
as well as physically. He’s not played for a couple of weeks. It’s a
difficult decision to make.”
Although cleared by the court both Stokes and England team-mate Alex Hales
remain subject to a Cricket Discipline Commission investigation.
Stokes was not selected for any of the 2017/18 Ashes in Australia, which
England lost 4-0 in his absence while attracting some unwanted off-field
headlines regarding player behaviour.
“Since the (Stokes) incident we’ve done a lot of work with team culture
with the two captains (Test skipper Joe Root and white-ball counterpart Eoin
Morgan) — and that’s ongoing,” said Bayliss.
“Changes with curfews and that type of thing.
“In the past all the other teams I’ve been involved with and this one,
when I arrived, would treat teams like adults and they (players) will respond
like it,” the former Sri Lanka coach added.
“For a team on the road 11 months out of 12, we had an incident we’d
rather have not happened to a degree and we’ve thought we needed to do
something different.
“There were a couple of small indiscretions in Australia after that
incident and I think the players have finally woken up. They’ve learnt their
lesson and the way they go about their profession has been top class.”
BSS/AFP/BZC/2000HRS