ENG vs IND 2018: Bayliss Backs England To Retain Focus Amid Ben Stokes' Absence Due To Trial

England head coach Trevor Bayliss has insisted the ongoing court trial of allrounder Ben Stokes has not affected the players as they fight it out in the ongoing England vs India series.

England, on Monday, announced an unchanged 13-man squad for the third Test against India. Stokes, who missed the second Test at Lord’s, could not make it to the squad for the third Test too due to his ongoing affray trial. The case at Bristol Crown Court is close to completion with the jury beginning their deliberations on Tuesday.

The England and Wales Cricket board confirmed that they would make an assessment of Stokes’s availability after the conclusion of the trial in Bristol.

“The ECB will make an assessment of Ben Stokes’s availability after the trial in Bristol has concluded,” the board stated.

Prior to the start of the trial, Stokes had starred for England in the first Test against India. At 141 for 6 while chasing 194, India were slightly ahead in the game because of Virat Kohli’s presence. The India skipper had scored a majestic ton in the first innings and had just crossed his fifty in the second. A few more overs of Kohli on the crease would have surely put the game beyond England’s reach. Root then decided to introduce Stokes in the attack hoping for a miracle. And Stokes did not let his skipper down.

In his very first over, Stokes forced the India star to make one mistake which sealed the visitors’ fate. Kohli played outside the line, slightly across it, with a slightly closed face and was pinned lbw. Three balls later, Stokes dismissed Mohammed Shami to put England well on top.

Hardik Pandya threatened to take the game close. However, Stokes fittingly closed the game by sending him back.

But while England would definitely love to have Stokes back, they did not miss him much in the second Test. The hosts thrashed India by an innings and 159 runs to go 2-0 up in the five-match series. England now need to win one of the remaining three games to seal the series against the world number one Test side.

And ahead of the third game, Bayliss said that the players are focused on their task despite Stokes’ trial.

“The results speak for themselves,” said Bayliss, when asked how the players had been effected by court proceedings in the last week. “The guys are able to put anything off field out of their mind and concentrate on what they are doing. And this was the perfect example.”

That England did not miss Stokes much was because of Chris Woakes’ brilliance. He scored his maiden Test hundred (137 not out) and took four wickets, including that of Virat Kohli in the first innings, to bag the Man of the match award.

Bayliss now hopes that, Stokes or no Stokes, this man-of-the-match performance from Woakes can propel his career forward.

“There’s no reason why he can’t,” said Bayliss.

“Woakesy is one of those guys who is very well respected in the team. He has done a lot of hard yards, not just with the ball but with the bat over the last few years too. He’s a lovely bloke. And one of those guys who everyone genuinely wants to do well. So to see him go out there and do so well when we thought we were in a bit of trouble, to go and play the way he did with Jonny (Bairstow), was fantastic. The boys were very happy for him,” he added.

Meanwhile, Stokes can remain out of action for quite some time now. Once the court case has finished, the independent Cricket Disciplinary Commission will then put together their hearing on the matter, which adds further uncertainty to a possible return for the allrounder.