England have vindicated Trevor Bayliss’ confidence that they can set aside Ben Stokes’ absence and produce their A game against India.
Bayliss never expected his players to be distracted by their team-mate’s ongoing court case, and so it proved as they went 2-0 up on the tourists with a commanding innings victory in the second Test.
It took the selectors less than 24 hours to confirm an unchanged 13-man squad, again missing Stokes, whose affray case clashed with the Lord’s Test but is set to be concluded before England head to Nottingham on Thursday to prepare for the third match of five.
Asked if he was ever concerned events elsewhere might put England off, Bayliss said: “The results speak for themselves.
“The guys are able to put anything off field out of their mind and concentrate on what they’re doing, and this was the perfect example.”
An England and Wales Cricket Board statement left open the possibility that Stokes may not yet be entirely out of contention for Trent Bridge.
It read: “The ECB will make an assessment of Ben Stokes’ availability after the trial in Bristol has concluded.”
Ben Stokes’ trial is still ongoing.
Speaking before that Monday afternoon update, Bayliss said: “Obviously that will be something that comes up in the next couple of days. We will make a decision when we know what happens.”
England have been reassured, in Stokes’ absence, by the man-of-the-match performance of his replacement Chris Woakes, who returned from injury at Lord’s to hit a maiden Test century and also finish with four wickets.
Equally impressive was the evergreen brilliance of England’s all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson.
The 36-year-old continues to defy the advance of age and, after his match haul of nine for 43 at Lord’s, becoming the first bowler ever to take 100 Test wickets there, Bayliss voiced his belief that Anderson will be adding many more to his record-breaking career aggregate of 553 victims.
Asked how long Anderson may go on, he said: “I don’t think there’s any age – he keeps surprising everyone. As long as he keeps his body fit there’s no reason why he can’t go on for three or four years.
“A lot of other bowlers do start to drop off mid-30s or so. It’s only the very, very best that are able to keep it going. I think he’s showing that he is the very, very best.”
Anderson, who has an even better record at Trent Bridge, made the most of cloud cover and a green pitch.
Bayliss added: “He’s not just good when the conditions suit him, but in these conditions he’s the best in the world. It’s a test for any batsman in the world to try to face him in these conditions.”
