Eoin Morgan’s side were without Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali for their final warm-up match with South Africa on Monday, England slumping to a seven-wicket loss at Lord’s.
A knee injury has been troubling Stokes since the first one-day international with the Proteas, while Woakes had a thigh problem, and a groin issue sidelined Moeen.
Bayliss insisted all three were not long-term concerns, though, and would have played against South Africa had the game been an important one.
Speaking to Sky Sports the coach said: “It’s not perfect going into a big tournament [with injuries] but I think all of the three guys who have got a bit of a niggle could have played today if it was a final for example.
“So it was just giving them an extra day recovery before that first game on Thursday.”
The fitness of Stokes could play a pivotal role in England’s success in the Champions Trophy after establishing himself as one of the world’s top all-rounders during the Indian Premier League.
His century in the second ODI with South Africa helped secure the series and Bayliss is confident the 25-year-old will be fit for their Group A opener against Bangladesh.
“It’s a strange one, he can run around as usual in the field like a mad man and get his hundred on the weekend and not feel even feel it,” Bayliss said of Stokes’ injury.
“It’s just when he’s bowling at full tilt [that he feels it], hopefully that means it’s not much and an extra day or two he will come good.
“I’m sure he’ll be there on Thursday.”
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