Trevor Bayliss: “It’s a board decision which I’ve obviously had no part in”

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England head coach Trevor Bayliss has revealed that he didn’t have anything to do with the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) decision to allow all-rounder Ben Stokes to play international cricket again.

Stokes was recently charged with affray for his involvement in a street fight outside the Mbargo nightclub in Bristol last September. Despite this, the ECB decided to make his eligible for selection.

Stokes, who will have to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court at a later date, is set to make his international comeback during the T20 tri-series involving England, Australia and New Zealand in February.

“It’s a board decision which I’ve obviously had no part in,” Bayliss was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. “I will say it’s a difficult situation and a difficult decision to make.

“From our point of view here, we’ve just been concentrating on playing cricket without him to begin with. But everyone involved with the team, the squad and the coaches are very happy that he’s now available again.”

Upon being asked when Stokes will don the England jersey again, Bayliss admitted that it could take some time as the 26-year-old has not played any international matches since September last year.

“He hasn’t played any cricket for a little while either so it’s basically my thought that he should probably start in New Zealand just to allow him a little bit of time to get up to speed,” Bayliss said. “I haven’t even had an opportunity to speak to him yet about what his programme might be over the next week or two leading into that series.

“I think the main focus going forward is probably the New Zealand ODIs and trying to get him up to speed for those – what that might entail, we’ll have to have a close look at that over the next day or so and try and work out what’s going to be the best for him.”