Fraser urges: Avoid the ‘white noise’

England selector Angus Fraser has warned the squad to ignore the “white noise” surrounding Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes.

The Ashes series has been overshadowed by the continued absence of key all-rounder Stokes and the headbutt row involving Bairstow.

Stokes remains suspended while the Crown Prosecution Service decide whether to charge him over an incident in September. But his sudden trip to New Zealand, where he is set to play for Canterbury on Sunday, has raised the prospect of a dramatic return to the squad.

Bairstow, meanwhile, came under the spotlight for his socalled headbutt greeting to Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft last month.

But former England bowler Fraser said: “It’s not ideal, but it’s a just bit of white noise going on around them. “You look at the Jonny Bairstow thing and I’m sure he regrets greeting someone in such a manner. But I think the Aussies have done a job on us to be honest. “As for Stokes, we are aware there maybe things taking place over the next week or so, but equally there are a lot of hurdles to overcome.

“The squad there is the squad you expect to finish the tour. It’s a point of debate, it creates news, but the squad of players are the group who have to try to win games of cricket. If something changes then you react. But I don’t think anyone is looking over their shoulder for a plane to come in to land.”

England are in Adelaide for the day-night Test starting in the early hours of tomorrow, trailing 1-0 in the series.

But Middlesex bowler To- by Roland-Jones, ruled out of the tour through injury, has backed Joe Root’s side to come back strongly from their 10-wicket Brisbane loss.

He said: “It’s been competitive so far. A lot of the guys performed nicely in the first Test but some will wish they had pushed on a bit more, especially with the bat.

“Fingers crossed, the big scores come in the second Test. I think England will be arguably more prepared for what’s to come and the daynight will provide a surface to put the Aussies under pressure and hopefully come out on top.”