Stokes’ spirit still firing up England

BEN Stokes is irreplaceable as a cricketer but his character still looms large within England’s cricket team, strike bowler Stuart Broad says.

Vice-captain Stokes is unlikely to feature in the looming Ashes series against Australia as he awaits the outcome of a police investigation into his role in a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub on September 25. He has not been charged.

But Broad says Stokes remains an influence on the touring squad.

“His character is still within this team. He has been part of the leadership group for a few years now, has been a very tough competitor but someone who puts his arm around people — the characteristics he has shown have rubbed off on other people.

“He, without sounding airyfairy, is still within this group even though he is not here in Australia.”

England coach Trevor Bayliss said he wasn’t wasting time thinking about Stokes’ status for the Ashes series starting November 23 in Brisbane.

He said yesterday he had heard nothing more about Stokes’s case.

“If we concentrate on that and wondering if he is coming or not, that might take the focus off what we’re trying to achieve.

“If he happens to turn up at some stage, it’s a bonus. If he doesn’t, bad luck — we will just get on with what we have got.”

Former Australian fast bowlers Ryan Harris and Glenn McGrath believed England would be hard-pressed to cover Stokes.

Harris, coach of a Cricket Australia XI against England in a day-night fixture in Adelaide from today to Saturday, said Stokes’ absence was “huge”.

“He is the one that if England lose wickets at the top, he comes out and either steadies or counter-attacks,” Harris said. “It’s a big hole for England.”