BAYLISS ALL PRAISE FOR STOKES’ ABILITIES

Dhaka, Oct. 26: England’s Ben Stokes could mature into one of the greatest ever all-rounders, coach Trevor Bayliss said after the 25-year-old’s match-winning performance in the opening test against Bangladesh. Stokes was manof-the-match in England’s thrilling 22-run victory in Chittagong, taking six wickets, including two in three balls to seal victory on the final day. He also scored a vital 85 with the bat in the second innings after England’s top order had collapsed on day three.

“He could be right up there with some of the alltime best all-rounders,” Bayliss told reporters in Dhaka ahead of the second test starting Friday.

“He’s young into his career and that’s going to be easier to judge the longer he goes. Only time will tell. But the strides he's made on the subcontinent playing spin have been top class.”

England captain Alastair Cook said after Chittagong that Stokes brought an ‘X factor’ to the side and put the all-rounder’s improvement down to his work playing spin.

Bayliss agreed. “It wasn’t all that long ago we were wondering how he might go on spin-friendly wickets, but he’s a guy that works extremely hard in the nets,” the 53-year-old Australian said. “It’s his defence to spin that has improved out of sight. We know that if he gets a bad ball he can hit anything over the fence, but you’ve got to be there to get that loose ball. In the past he probably hasn’t had a lot of footwork, has played from the crease and backed his eye and his hands,” he added.