South Africa vs England: Four years on, Ben Stokes back to scene of success

Ben Stokes will return to the scene of one of the most spectacular performances of his career when England takes on South Africa in the second Test.

Ben Stokes cracked 258 in the new-year Test in 2016. It remains his highest score in Tests.

Ben Stokes returns to the scene of one of his most spectacular performances but the circumstances are different going into the second Test between England and South Africa at Newlands on Friday.

Four years ago, Stokes thrashed 258 off 198 balls in a brutal display of power hitting, collecting 11 sixes and sharing in a world Test record sixth wicket partnership of 399 with Jonny Bairstow, whose 150 not out from 191 balls was scarcely pedestrian. England went into that match 1-0 up in a four-Test series which it went on to win. This time it is the team needing to catch up after losing the opening encounter in Centurion.

South Africa was captained by Hashim Amla, who effectively acknowledged his lack of aptitude for the job by resigning from it after the match despite making a double century of his own to ensure a high-scoring draw. On this occasion it is England’s captain, Joe Root, who is under pressure because of his team’s poor recent record away from home.

Stokes then was on his way to becoming England’s talisman, a status which he cemented during 2019, which ended with him being awarded an OBE in Britain’s New Year honours list.

Bairstow, though, has gone backwards. He seems unlikely to play at Newlands this time after failing with one and nine at Centurion, where he only played because of Ollie Pope’s illness.

Bonanza for batsmen

Newlands in 2016 provided an unusually benign pitch for batsmen, with both teams scoring over 600 in a first innings which only ended late on the fourth day. It is the only one of the most recent 11 Test matches at Newlands, going back to 2011, to have ended in a draw. South Africa has won nine of the other 10, losing once. Totals over 400 have been rare, with only four instances other than the 2016 run feast.

There is a new groundsman but it seems reasonable to expect a fair contest between bat and ball this time around.

After winning the first Test in Centurion by 107 runs, South Africa is likely to make one forced change with opening batsman Pieter Malan expected to win his first cap in place of the injured Aiden Markram.

Spinner needed

England opted to go into the first Test without a spinner but Newlands is a ground where spin bowlers are usually needed. It is a dilemma for England, with Jack Leach having been ill virtually since the team’s arrival. Although he is now reportedly recovering and out of quarantine he is unlikely to be considered match fit.

Leg-spinner Matt Parkinson was unimpressive in two warm-up matches and off-spinner Dom Bess, flown out on standby because of the illness in the camp, could be selected, possibly ahead of veteran fast bowler James Anderson.

England’s most potent fast bowler, Jofra Archer, did not bowl during net practice at Newlands on Wednesday because of a sore right elbow although he was able to bat and take part in fielding drills, according to a team spokesman.

• South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Dean Elgar, Pieter Malan, Zubayr Hamza, Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock (wk), Dwaine Pretorius, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje.
• England: Joe Root (c), Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Joe Denly, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Dom Bess, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad
• Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SL), Paul Reiffel (AUS)
• TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZ)
• Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)