'No concerns' about Ben Stokes' absence – Trevor Bayliss

Stokes played a key part for England, picking up four wickets including the prized one of Virat Kohli, as India folded for 162 to concede the first Test at Edgbaston by 31 runs.

But Stokes had to be left out of the squad for the second Test because of his trial for affray in connection with the incident at a Bristol nightclub back in September 2017, which will begin on Monday, 6 August. Chris Woakes has replaced him.

“I’ve got no concerns about it," said Bayliss ahead of the second Test, starting at Lord’s on 9 August.

“It means that someone else has got to take up the slack. Hopefully winning this one and having that confidence will be a good thing.”

Stokes, speaking after the Edgbaston win, said that he wasn’t sure what to feel about the circumstances he finds himself in, but Bayliss insisted that the all-rounder wasn’t overly worried.

“Ben has no concerns about it as well,” Bayliss said. “Obviously, it’s something we would have liked to have not been happening. That was the same in Australia [during the Ashes, which Stokes had to miss]. But the boys in Australia just got on with it. There was a bit of chat before the series started but once we got out there it was about playing as well as we possibly can with the guys we’ve got.

“It will be interesting to see who can step up and take his place. Someone, or two or three guys, will have to step up and do the extra yards. That will be a telling factor for the next match.”

On Woakes, who was in the England XI for the second Test against Pakistan at Headingley in early June as Stokes nursed an injury, Bayliss was positive.

“We had him bowling in the nets. One of the first practice days here, he bowled 14 overs in the nets. Two spells: eight and six. He’s gone back and played a couple of T20 games and is back into match mode. Fitness wise he should be fine,” said the England coach.

Whether Woakes gets into the XI or not, Sam Curran might have to take up a bit of extra load.

Curran was named the Player of the Match for the first Test after turning in a superb all-round show, and a thrilled Joe Root had gone on to say, “It’s like having two Ben Stokeses.”

“He wants to be in the fight,” said Bayliss of the 20-year-old all-rounder. “Just like his brother [Tom]. They want the ball, they want to do the batting. They just want it all the time.

“For us, he’s picked for his bowling. But you can see in the way he plays that there’s a good chance of him being able to bat No.6.”