South Africa v England, 2nd Test Day Two: Five Things We Learned

Ben Stokes created history with a brilliant 258 to put England firmly in control of the second test against South Africa. Here are five things we learned.

MAN OF THE DAY – BEN STOKES 258 (198)

Good grief, what have we seen? Barbaric brilliance, that’s what. He started the day on 74 and when he left, an hour into the second session of the day, he raised his bat to all corners, shook a few hands and walked off with 258 to his name. In between, he tore down some records and put his own up. He scored 130 runs from 70 balls in the morning – the most anyone has scored in a pre-lunch session. In doing so, he became England’s fastest Test double centurion. No one was safe: every bowler treated as his little play thing, serving him short and full balls – all of which were sent to the fence. Of his 41 boundaries, 11 were sixes, which is the most in an English Test innings. Truly, an all-time great knock.

BAIRSTOW ROARS – 150* (191)

The emotional reaction said it all. This meant a hell of a lot to Jonny Bairstow. Most hundreds would, but after coming in and excelling against South Africa in 2012, where he scored what was his previous best of 95, the Yorkshire keeper has had years of graft to correct a technique that has been analysed to death. Here, he played the perfect support role: giving Stokes the strike and then contributing some blows of his own to allow the Cumbrian Botham a few moments to catch his breath. He went through the nineties with singles before Hashim Amla brought the field in and Bairstow pierced backward point off his 161st ball.

THE PARTNERSHIP – 399

Three hundred and ninety nine! Absurd. The highest for the sixth wicket, the second highest by any England pair and the fastest ever 300 partnership from 46.4 overs – today alone, they scored 312 in 233 balls. It was the sort of collective savagery the Vikings would reserve for a particular testy village. Both sides were neck and neck when Stokes and Bairstow came together yesterday at 223 for five. By the time they parted ways, England were out of sight.

AMLA KEEPS THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR

If he lasts as captain beyond this season then it will be a mistake. His decision to bowl Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel into the ground was ridiculous and his persistence with pace in the first hour, when proceedings were crying out for pace off the ball, allowed England to hammer away with glee. But under fire and under pressure, he came out later in the day and did what he has done best - bat. Drives down the ground, wrists flicks either side of the wicket - the playbook got an outing for the first time in 12 innings as he registered his first half-century in that time. Baby steps, but progress nonetheless.

WHAT NOW?

So, evidentially we have a good batting track. Who knew? Well of course, there’s nothing to take away from England’s first innings, but South Africa have made a solid start. The hosts could reach to 400 and follow on, though if England are in the field long enough for that to happen then a quick thrash with the bat to rest the bowlers in order. Ideally, England want a lead of 300 and another day of grinding South Africa into the dust.