Without Ben Stokes England preparing for Ashes

Coach Trevor Bayliss said Ben Stokes' participation in the Ashes would be an "absolute bonus" but England are preparing contingency plans without Ben Stokes in the series.

"If he turns up it's an absolute bonus," Bayliss told a news conference on Wednesday. "If he did happen to turn up, I'm sure he would slip back in easily."

Stokes faces an ECB disciplinary investigation following the police probe and Bayliss had "no clue" when he would next be available for selection.

"It's totally out of our hands. We have just got on with preparing as best we can. I have (written Stokes off)."

"Having to replace Ben and the combination that we come up with requires doing a bit of both (batting and bowling)," he said.