Trevor Bayliss: “We are losing one of the leaders of the team in everything”

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England head coach Trevor Bayliss has said that “someone else is going to have to step up” in Ben Stokes’ absence during the Ashes series against Australia.

Stokes is unlikely to represent England in the series as he was withdrawn from the squad as the investigation into his alleged street brawl continues.

The 26-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm, but just last week, two gay men came forth and claimed that Stokes was protecting them after they had been the victims of a homophobic attack.

“Not having someone like Ben in the team will be a loss,” Bayliss told Sky Sports. “Any team that loses one of their better players is not going to be quite the team they may have been. We have just gone about things as we normally have.

“A good player can have an injury and you would be without them anyway, so we have just prepared with the guys that we have got here.

“There hasn’t been any chat about him being here or not being here. We have just got on with what we have been doing. We are losing one of the leaders of the team in everything. Batting, bowling, obviously in the field, his contribution to the team off the field, and he is a leader out on the ground as well. Someone else is going to have to step up.”

While the incident involving Stokes has raised questions about England’s behaviour off the pitch, Bayliss is confident that his side will act appropriately throughout their tour of Australia.

“I am all for not treating the guys like kids,” he said. “That is the way we have gone about it over the past couple of years.

“In the end it is a personal choice. It doesn’t matter what rules and regulations you have got in place. In the end, it is a choice a player makes.

“I think it’s a bit of a reminder to the players about the responsibilities they have got, not just for themselves and their team-mates, but to the game in general.”