Trevor Bayliss heaps praise on 'exemplary' Ben Stokes: He's the first pick

Stokes was cleared of the charge by a jury at Bristol Crown Court earlier this year and has returned to being a integral part of the England side in the months since, helping secure Test series victory over India and Sri Lanka

Trevor Bayliss has praised "exemplary" Ben Stokes for the attitude the allrounder has shown following his affray trial.

Stokes was cleared of the charge by a jury at Bristol Crown Court earlier this year and has returned to being a integral part of the England side in the months since, helping secure Test series victory over India and Sri Lanka as well as playing a key role in the white-ball side.

Though the aftermath from the ill-fated night out in Bristol last September, which ended with Stokes being arrested, has still to pass - a Cricket Discipline Commission meeting on December 5 and 7 could still slap Stokes with sanctions for bringing the game into disrepute - Bayliss says the Durham man has not shown any adverse effects from the saga.

"I think he's certainly learnt a lesson since that time," said Bayliss. "The way he's conducted himself since he has come back into the fold has been exemplary.

"That (CDC charge) hasn't affected him, I haven't heard it mentioned once around the changing room. I hope he's available for our next game."

^{Ben Stokes has made a big contribution to the England team since being found not guilty of affray}

Stokes contributed 189 runs and five wickets to England's Test whitewash of Sri Lanka but the statistics do not show the crucial interventions the allrounder made at critical times.

"You can throw the ball to him, you can put him in any situation with the bat, you can put him where the ball is coming in the field. For me, he's the first pick," said Bayliss.

"His averages may not be the greatest in each of his positions. But you add those three disciplines together, it adds up to one hell of a player.

"To see him bowl the ball and then chase the ball all the way to wide mid-on to save it, that's commitment, that. He's a madman. How many other blokes in the world would you see do that? No one. And that says a lot.

"I got into the lift a couple of nights ago after dinner on the third day and he was getting out. He'd just come back from the gym! That's how hard he works. He deserves everything he gets from the game."

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