‘No Stokes, but life must go on’

IF HE DOES TURN UP IT’S AN ABSOLUTE BONUS England open their tour against a WA XI at the WACA.

England coach Trevor Bayliss said he is preparing for life without Ben Stokes in the Ashes series, adding that any reprieve for the suspended star would be just a “bonus”.

As England get ready for their opening tour match in Perth tomorrow, Stokes remains at home awaiting the outcome of a police probe into his involvement in a brawl outside a nightclub.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have not yet ruled the vice-captain out of the Ashes series, which starts with the first Test in Brisbane on November 23.

But Bayliss said he has had to discount any chance of Stokes playing a role.

“I have,” England’s Australian coach told reporters late on Wednesday, when asked if he had “written off ” Stokes.

“If he turns up it’s an absolute bonus. And if he did happen to turn up, I’m quite sure he would slip back in very easily.”

The Stokes controversy has rocked England’s preparations with former Australia Test captains Steve Waugh and Ian Chappell among those who believe England can’t retain the Ashes without him.

“The players have a very tough series coming up and they are focused on winning it,” Bayliss said.

“They are concentrating on playing without him. We can’t worry about something we can’t control.”

Despite England’s chances of retaining the Ashes urn weakening without Stokes, Bayliss said Australia were still “beatable”.

“If any team lose one of their better players it will be upsetting to a certain degree,” he said.

England face a second-string WA XI squad in their two-day match starting at the WACA Ground tomorrow.

After taking on the WA XI side, England face a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide and Townsville in four-day games. – AFP