Ben Stokes Betters Virender Sehwag, Scores Second-Fastest Double Ton in Tests
Ben Stokes decimated South Africa in the second morning of the second Test as he notched up the second-fastest double century in Tests to put England in command.
England allrounder has ushered in 2016 with a bang as he decimated South Africa with a breathtaking display of batting on the second day of the second Test in Newlands, Cape Town. Stokes shattered plenty of records and put England on top with this wonderful display in his magnificent knock of 258 off 198 balls, which included 30 fours and 11 sixes . Here are a list of Stokes' statistical achievements. (Sir Ian Botham Blown Away by Magnificent Ben Stokes)
- Stokes smashed a double century off 163 balls. It is the second-fastest by an England batsman in Tests. The record of the fastest double century is held by New Zealand's Nathan Astle, who got it in 153 balls against England in Christchurch in March 2002. Virender Sehwag of India had held the earlier record for the second-fastest double ton when he smashed it off 168 balls against Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 2009.
- Stokes has scored the fastest double century by an England batsman in Tests. The previous record was held by Sir Ian Botham who hit a double century off 220 balls against India at The Oval in July 1982.
- In his innings, he smashed 11 sixes, which is the highest by an England batsman in Tests. He broke Wally Hammond's record of10 sixes against New Zealand in Auckland in 1933 in his knock of 336*.
- Stokes becomes the third England player to notch up a double century in Tests in South Africa. Eddie Paynter smashed 243 in Durban in 1939 while John Edrich also hit 219 in Durban in 1939.
- Stokes is the first England batsman and only the second overseas player to notch up a double century in Cape Town. Former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming has the highest individual score in Newlands when he smashed 262 in 2006. This is only the fifth time that a batsman has scored a double ton in 53 Tests at the venue.
- The Durham right-hander now holds the record for the highest individual score by an England batsman at No 6 in Tests. The earlier record was held by Graeme Hick who hit 178 against India in Mumbai in 1993.
- The 399-run partnership between Stokes and Jonny Bairstow is the highest sixth-wicket partnership in Test history. Kane Williamson and BJ Watling held the previous record of 365 which they achieved against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 2015. This partnership is also a record stand for any wicket in South Africa, going past the mark of 385 set by Australia's Steve Waugh and Greg Blewett for the fifth wicket in Johannesburg in 1997.
- England declared at 629/6, which is their second highest Test score in South Africa. Their run-rate of 4.99 was the second-fastest run-rate by a team in a score of over 600. Australia had scored 735/6 against Zimbabwe in Perth in 2003 at a run-rate of 5.01.