Stokes needs to stump up a public apology

BEN BACK AFTER COURT CASE

BY DEAN WILSON ENGLAND cricket coach Trevor Bayliss has called on Ben Stokes to make a public apology for his part in a late-night Bristol brawl.

Despite Stokes being acquitted of affray in court the saga has cast a shadow over the game and the England team.

Asked whether Stokes, employed by the ECB on a central contract, should apologise Bayliss said: “That’ll be up to Ben and his management team.

“But certainly when he came out to New Zealand after the Ashes tour that he missed he certainly addressed the players in the changing room when he first arrived.

“So from our point of view his contrition was evident for the boys in the team.”

Pushed on whether the player should express those sentiments publicly, Bayliss added: “Certainly. It was important to actually apologise to the boys in the team, management of the team and management at the ECB – who had to go through a lot of extra activities to work our way through it.

“I’m sure something will be forthcoming. It will be up to Ben how much contrition he has got.

“Away from this incident and round the game he is an honest, humble guy. I can’t see this situation being any different.

“It’s good to have him back around the squad. It’s been a wake-up call for him. I’m happy for Ben that’s all over. “It was basically thought that for his own wellbeing it was good to get him back around cricket.” Bayliss confirmed Joe Root and Eoin Morgan have been proactive in looking into the culture of the England teams since the incident in Bristol and is