South Africa vs England: Ben Stokes' brilliant innings in numbers

The Durham all-rounder set a host of new records with his incredible knock

Sunday 03 January 2016 08:34 EST
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Ben Stokes celebrates his historic double century
Ben Stokes celebrates his historic double century (Getty Images)

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Ben Stokes' brilliant double century for England in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town will go down in history

The Durham all-rounder set a host of new records with his incredible knock and here, we take a look at the new landmarks set by the 24-year-old all-rounder.

Ben Stokes' record-breaking stats

  • 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 has now 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 ball, the fastest in England history, beating Marcus Trescothick's 146-ball knock against Bangladesh in 2005.
  • The sixth-wicket stand between Stokes and Bairstow is the highest in English history, trumping Graham Thorpe and Andrew Flintoff's 281 against New Zealand in 2002.
  • Stokes' 105-ball century was the fastest by an Englishman against South Africa, beating Flintoff's 112 balls in 2003 at Lord's.
  • 196 runs in a session is the highest ever by an England team in Tests and the second highest total before lunch by any team.
  • First century by an England batsman at Newlands since Mike Smith in 1965.

Stokes was eventually dimissed by AB de Villiers, who picked up his own dropped catch and ran the England man out.

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