England coach Bayliss calls for toning down of ICC's strict player behaviour rules
England coach Trevor Bayliss fears ICC's stringent rules on player behaviour could restrict passionate cricketers from expressing themselves, following disciplinary action against his team member Ben Stokes for his confrontation with India skipper Virat Kohli in the third Test.
In Mohali, Stokes was reprimanded by the International Cricket Council for "inappropriate comments"after he got involved in a verbal spat with Kohli who made a “silencing” gesture following the England all-rounder’s dismissal in the second innings.
Stokes was demerited a point under the ICC's new code of conduct which now puts him in line for a mandatory ban for one Test or two One-Day Internationals, should he double his demerit points at any point over the next two years.
“I think he's (Ben Stokes) improving! I think at times ICC are almost looking for things. I agree that things have been out of hand in the past, and we don't want it to go overboard. But sometimes a little bit of by-play between a couple of guys on either side –
‘We've just got to be careful ... we (don't) completely cut that out. I think having some personalities in the game is fantastic to watch. I think it's part of the game. But he's got to learn to deal with it in a different way ... or get away with it a bit better! I think he's come a long way in the last 12 months or so ... and I'm sure he'll keep improving in that area,” the Australian added.
Bayliss went on to praise Stokes' qualities as a player. The 25-year old scored a hundred in the first Test in Rajkot and took a fifer in Mohali.
"Some of us are in awe of what he does. He just doesn't stop. He's like a wind-up clock. You get him off at the break, wind him up and send him back out. I don't know who was the last overseas player to score a hundred and take a five-for in a Test series over here – especially a pace bowler. That wouldn't have been done too many times – that’s a feather in his cap,” the England coach said.
Bayliss has also backed
"He's still the same Cookie in the changing room. These are just difficult conditions to play in. Even the best of the players, when it's foreign conditions, have a bit of a rough trot. He made a hundred in the first Test ... so I'm not concerned about it. He's been through it before and has done well in India before,” the 53-year-old said.
The England players have been given a few days off before the fourth Test in Mumbai starting on Dec 8, and Bayliss thinks the break will help them to recover both mentally and physically.
“I think the break will do him the world of good as well. It will be good (for them) to get away and have a complete break, mentally and physically. We've been on the subcontinent for a long time ... it can be difficult at times, even away from the game, if you're not used to it. So this is an opportunity to get away for three or four days, refresh and – we hope – come back raring to go.”
Comments
Sign up or log in to your account to leave comments and reactions
0 Comments