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Stokes' character still with Poms: Broad

Nov 7th, 2017Nov 7th, 2017

Ben Stokes is irreplaceable as a cricketer but his character still looms large within England's cricket team, strike bowler Stuart Broad says.

Stokes is unlikely to feature in the looming Ashes series against Australia as he awaits the outcome of a police investigation into his role in a brawl in Bristol.

Vice-captain Stokes remains in England after being arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm in a fight outside a nightclub on September 25. He has not been charged.

But Broad says Stokes remains an influence on the touring squad.

"You can't replace the cricketer because he catches, bats and bowls," Broad told reporters in Adelaide on Tuesday.

"His character is still within this team.

"He has been part of the leadership group for a few years now, has been a very tough competitor but someone who puts his arm around people - the characteristics he has shown have rubbed off on other people.

"He, without sounding airy-fairy, is still within this group even though he is not here in Australia."

England coach Trevor Bayliss said he wasn't wasting time thinking about Stokes' status for the Ashes series starting November 23 in Brisbane.

"I haven't ... heard of anything since we have been here," Bayliss told reporters on Tuesday.

"If we concentrate on that and wondering if he is coming or not, that might take the focus off what we're trying to achieve.

"So we have just been going about preparing with the players we have got here.

"If he happens to turn up at some stage, it's a bonus. If he doesn't, bad luck - we will just get on with what we have got."

Former Australian fast bowlers Ryan Harris and Glenn McGrath believed England would be hard-pressed to cover Stokes.

Harris, coach of a Cricket Australia XI against England in a day-night fixture in Adelaide from Wednesday to Saturday, said Stokes' absence was "huge".

"He is the one that if England lose wickets at the top, he comes out and either steadies or counter-attacks," Harris told reporters.

"It's a big hole for England, to be honest. Australia will be happy he's not here."

McGrath said England were now without their "enforcer" in Stokes.

"He's an incredible player, he fills two spots in one," McGrath said.

"If he doesn't come out, that's a big loss to England ... he's an enforcer within the team."


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