Trevor Bayliss has described the expected loss of Ben Stokes for next week’s third Test with Pakistan at Edgbaston as “a hole in the England team” that is only eased by the form of fellow all-rounder Chris Woakes.
Stokes had just returned to the side for the second Test at Old Trafford following surgery to his left knee at the end of May but pulled up during the fourth and final day of England’s 330-run victory with a right calf muscle problem.
The 25-year-old underwent an MRI scan on Tuesday evening and his name is not likely to feature when the squad for Birmingham is announced on Wednesday.
Woakes, who has taken 18 wickets and averaged 58 with the bat during the series – which is level at 1-1 with two Tests to play – at least ensures the balance of the side would not be harmed too badly.
The England coach said: “[Stokes] is a big player for us, he adds a lot of spark to the team. He bats, bowls and he’s a leader in the field so it is a bit of a hole. But someone like Chris Woakes has done brilliantly so far this season so we are lucky in that aspect.”
The selectors, of which Bayliss is one, are now expected to trim the 14-man squad by one, with the fast bowlers Steven Finn and Jake Ball, who both played in the defeat at Lord’s before missing out in Manchester, likely to vie for the vacated space in the team along with the leg-spinner Adil Rashid.
Alastair Cook has dropped in the name of Mark Wood in recent weeks but while the Durham fast bowler, who was part of the captain’s Ashes-winning side last summer, has returned to bowling in limited-overs cricket in the last month following two ankle operations over the winter, England will likely want to see him get through some County Championship cricket before considering him for a Test recall.
If the bowling resources appear deep, then the batting remains reliant on the form of Cook, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, with Bayliss admitting the position of the No4 James Vince will also be discussed; the right-hander has averaged only 18.57 in his five Tests this summer with a top score of 42 and was caught behind playing an aggressive drive at Old Trafford.
Bayliss said: “I don’t see there’s any reason to panic at the moment. But as I said after the last game, runs will count. It doesn’t matter what you look like getting them, or what you might do in the future, in the end, with these guys, it gets down to how many runs and how many wickets.
“There’s certainly been no talk about him having a spot until a certain time, that’s for sure. Yes I’d like to see people given a little bit more of an extra go rather than one [game]. It’s not enough but we’ve never put a quantity on it. It will be a little bit of a gut feel. If there’s someone else who warrants a place to replace a player like that … I’m sure it will be discussed.”
Asked if Vince’s inclination to drive at the ball is something that needs tempering, Bayliss replied: “We’ve probably all seen it before – does the ‘happy hooker’ give the hook shot away? “It might get you out a few times but it scores you a lot of runs. What do you do? His cover drive is one of his better shots.”
