England v South Africa: Watch Ben Stokes' stunning 258 in Cape Town!
Powerhouse smashed second-fastest double ton in Test cricket
Tuesday 4 July 2017 12:28, UK
Ben Stokes will come up against South Africa on Thursday - the side he swatted for 258 off 198 balls during a blistering innings in Cape Town in January 2016!
Few could have predicted the carnage to come on the Sunday morning of the second Test, despite Stokes having bedded in and moved to 74 not out by the close of play on day one.
The all-rounder - who, earlier this year, was named as vice-captain to new England Test skipper Joe Root - secured some sensational stats as he smoked South Africa all over Newlands…
- Stokes' 163-ball double century is the second fastest in Test history, behind only Nathan Astle (153) and beating Sir Ian Botham's England record of 220.
- Stokes scored the highest-ever innings by an England number six, overtaking Graeme Hick's 178 against India in 1983.
- Stokes' 130 runs in the first session are the most scored before lunch in Test history.
- Stokes' 150 came in 135 balls, the fastest in England history, beating Marcus Trescothick's 146-ball knock against Bangladesh in 2005.
- Stokes' 105-ball century was the fastest by an Englishman against South Africa, beating Andrew Flintoff's 112 balls in 2003 at Lord's.
- Stokes' century was the first by an England batsman at Newlands since Mike Smith in 1965.
Watch the best of Stokes' double ton in the video at the top of the page - and then catch him in action for England against South Africa in the first Investec Test at Lord's, live from 10am on Thursday on Sky Sports 2.