Friday 11 November 2016 03:53, UK
England are in the box-seat against India thanks to Ben Stokes' mature century, says Sir Ian Botham.
Stokes, dropped on 60 and 61 by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, reached his third century from 173 balls, having hit 12 fours and a six - propelling the tourists to 537 all out on day two of the first Test, in Rajkot.
Botham told Sky Sports the innings was further proof of the all-rounder's growing sense of responsibility at the crease.
"Stokes grows with every innings; he's real box office and he can take attacks apart but he also showed today that he can knock it around when he has to, to consolidate and settle things down," said Botham.
"England lost a couple of quick wickets but he didn't give his away; he stayed there and England have ended up with 537 rather than 450 all out.
"When India came at England and tried to attack Stokes actually countered that very, very well. He and Moeen Ali looked very good and then Jonny Bairstow came out and played very well too.
"England have got a lot of depth now. If you look at their record from six onwards, they are scoring something like 180-200 runs."
Stokes' century ensured that England's innings featured three hundreds for only the second time in Asia, the only other occurrence coming in Kanpur 55 years previously.
Although India reached 63-0 in their first innings before stumps, the tourists still lead by 474 runs and Botham believes they have every chance of turning that advantage into a match-winning platform.
"I think England are in a very strong position, one from which they can really pump home their advantage. I really do believe that," said the former all-rounder.
"If they can get the early breakthrough on Friday then put the pressure on then they're in business. The ball has just started reversing - we saw hints of it - and England are good exponents of that.
"Moeen Ali sounds very confident and upbeat, and why wouldn't he be after his hundred? England have Ben Stokes - who played magnificently today - to come back into the attack.
"England hold all the cards. They are in the box-seat. If England have a good day I believe that by tomorrow evening they could be bossing this game quite seriously because this pitch has got to deteriorate.
"We're at the end of day two and the pitch is already starting to do things; we're starting to see some uneven bounce and the odd ball is turning, not always from the rough - some are turning off the pitch.
"England are full of confidence - they should be. They played on very difficult wickets against Bangladesh and sometimes when you play on the hardest wickets and then you come to a pitch like this, it seems like paradise."
Watch extended highlights from day two of the first Test from 2pm and 8pm on Sky Sports 2, with The Verdict following immediately afterwards at 3pm and 9pm. Then join us for live coverage of day three on Sky Sports 2 from 3.45am on Friday.
