Monday 24 October 2016 21:36, UK
England must manage Ben Stokes' workload carefully if the talismanic all-rounder is to play all seven Tests this winter, says James Taylor.
Stokes turned in a man-of-the- match display in Chittagong, striking 85 and bagging match figures of 6-46 including the winning wicket, as England secured a 22-run victory in the first Test.
Speaking after the win, skipper Alastair Cook said Stokes "can be a bit of a handful to captain" such is his desire to bowl seven or eight over spells in conditions where short bursts are draining.
And Taylor told Sky Sports that with one more Test against Bangladesh to come - plus five more before Christmas against India - England's challenge is to protect Stokes from himself.
"There's no let up from Ben," said the former England batsman of Stokes, who has recovered from shoulder and calf injuries in the last year.
"If you watch him in the field he'll never throw a ball at 50 per cent. It will always be to the max that he can throw it at.
"Whatever he's doing, he's always doing it to the best of his ability. That's what makes him so special.
"He is going to put his body under strain - especially when you are playing constantly - because his bowling is all muscle.
"It's going to be a good effort from him if he can sustain the type of workload that he's put in during this first Test match.
"If he keeps doing that, it's going to be tough to keep him on the park for all seven Tests."
Taylor said Stokes' first-innings 85 proved just how far his batting technique has improved in subcontinental conditions but also paid tribute to the way the all-rounder has shouldered his extra responsibilities on the field.
"He's manned up. He's definitely matured and it has done wonders for his game.
"We've known for years the skills he's got and the talent he possesses but that maturity and capacity to deliver when his team needs it is the key to him being one of the world's best, which he certainly is when it comes to all-rounders."
Reflecting on England's win, he added: "Ultimately England have turned up and done their job - they've won the game, which is the main thing.
"For me it was pleasing that individuals stepped up. Stokes was the main man-of-the-moment but others did a great job coming during the game.
"I was pleased to see Gareth Batty come back into the side and take some wickets but, as always seems to be the case, there always seem to be questions to be answered - certainly about some of the field placings and the performances of the spinners, who were out-bowled by the seamers."
The sides meet in the second and final match of the series at Dhaka on Friday - a match you can watch live on Sky Sports 2 from 4.30am.
Catch re-runs of the day five action from 7am on the hour every hour until our live Verdict show kicks in at 3pm.
