Trevor Bayliss urges Ben Stokes to keep up the bite with opponents

England coach backs all-rounder's confrontational style

Marlon Samuels and Ben Stokes trade words (Getty)

England head coach Trevor Bayliss has encouraged Ben Stokes to continue feuding with opponents despite the all-rounder ending up on the losing side after his spat with Marlon Samuels during the last over the World Twenty20 final.

Samuels was fined for using abusive language as his partner Carlos Brathwaite struck Stokes for four sixes in a row and snatched the title away. But Bayliss does not want Stokes to back down in future.

“He’s one of those players that feeds off that,” the Australian said. “Some players sometimes say things and they can’t really back it up. But Stokesy is one of those players. That’s what turns him on, that’s what gets his juices flowing and makes him as good as he is.

“He’s not the only one around the world. There are a number of other players who do the same thing – almost create their own controversy or whatever you want to call it to psyche themselves up, to get their head in the game. He’s not the first player to do that and he won’t be the last. It brings the best out of him.”

Bayliss absolved Stokes of any responsibility for the defeat, even though West Indies needed 19 off the last over. “No one is blaming Stokesy for anything,” he said. “He leaves nothing in the tank. The more of those type of cricketers we can produce, the better for England cricket.”

The coach, who took over after England’s disastrous World Cup a year ago, added that his young and talented team needed to keep their new-found confidence – and keep learning.

“If they learn from that, I think it will steel them when they get into that situation again,” he said. “I thought they handled the pressure. I don’t think it is anything we did wrong, just some fantastic hitting in that last over. It is important they keep their heads in the game, they don’t think it is just going to happen without working hard and looking for that improvement.

“I think they can be a lot better team and that will come with experience and playing in these types of tournaments.”

Bayliss also expressed the hope that England’s success in the tournament, when they defeated South Africa, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and New Zealand in between their two losses to the West Indies, would have a wider impact on the English game. “I’ve had so many texts and emails already saying that cricket is back on the front page almost, back in people’s minds where maybe in the last year or two it hasn’t been. I think that support will carry on over into the players, the players will feel that. I’m looking forward to the summer at home and that support.”