Ben Stokes smashed a brutal and beautiful unbeaten 158 to not only help England overcome a shaky start to their opening three-day tour match at Senwes Park but erase any doubts about the extent of his recovery from a shoulder injury.
The Durham all-rounder was left fearing for his participation on this tour when he displaced his right shoulder attempting a spectacular catch during England’s final Test against Pakistan six weeks ago. Yet he showed no ill-effects from that alarming tumble as he ruthlessly battered a spirited, if limited, South Africa Invitational side’s attack. There were runs, too, for James Taylor, who batted positively to reach three figures in 137 balls before eventually retiring on 114.
Nick Compton can also be satisfied with his contribution, the Middlesex batsman staking his claim for the vacant No3 position in England’s batting lineup for the first Test against South Africa in Durban on Boxing Day with a typically determined 58. It came after both Alastair Cook, England’s captain, and Alex Hales, his latest opening partner, fell cheaply to leave their side on 10 for two, four overs into the morning session. Yet that was a distant memory by the time Stokes walked from the field late in the evening session having just passed 150 by smashing Somila Seyibokwe, a right-arm seam bowler, for a fifth six – and 28th boundary in total – in the 13-man English side’s innings.
Stokes took a particular liking to the spinners Luthando Mnyanda and Johannes Diseko as he scored his second 50 in 39 balls to reach three figures and then his third in just 31 deliveries to pass 150.
England will hope this is a sign of things to come against the world’s No1 team over the coming four Tests as having Stokes in this kind of form with the bat will greatly increase their chance of success.
The player himself, though, is just grateful to be here. “I was worried about if I was going to be fit but I did everything to make sure that I was on the plane out here,” said Stokes.
“I worked really hard with the England physios and those at Durham, followed all the medical advice – which is unlike me – as I just wanted to make sure I was fit. It’s always nice to get runs in these warm-up games but now it’s a case of trying to keep the form I have shown here up to the first Test.”
Stokes is not yet bowling at full pace in the nets, but insisted: “I’m fully fit to bowl. I have done the same amount of bowling work as I have batting work back at home and then out here in the nets. I’m 100% fit.”
Earlier in the day, Hales lasted just 10 balls in his first England innings in long-form cricket. The head coach, Trevor Bayliss, has publicly stated Hales will open with Cook in Durban and become his captain’s eighth partner at the top of the order in Tests since the retirement of Andrew Strauss in 2012.
Yet Hales failed to impress in his first innings in the new role, bowled for just eight after shouldering arms to an inswinging delivery from Junior Dala in the fourth over of the day. What will surely irk Hales the most is the fact he had been drilled intensely on leaving balls outside off stump by England’s coaches in the preceding days.
He at least fared better than Cook, who was pinned lbw the previous over by Thandolwethu Mnyaka, pushing forward to another ball that swung in.
Joe Root, still the world’s No1 Test batsman, scored a fluent 28 but failed to kick on, edging Andile Phehlukwayo behind to the wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen.
Root’s dismissal brought Taylor to the crease and he helped guide England to 90 for three at lunch alongside Compton before both went on to pass 50 after the interval.
Compton was dropped at first slip on 49 but eventually reached his half-century in 107 balls before he was pinned leg-before by Mnyaka playing back in his crease.
Taylor never looked like making the same mistake and plundered runs at will during a fluent 195-run partnership with Stokes.
England will consider the day a success, even if Jonny Bairstow, bowled through the gate by Mnyaka, joined Cook, Hales and Root in failing to make the most of helpful conditions and opponents.
