New Delhi :
It’s been a great display by England at Cape Town as the Three Lions are batting out South Africa of the second Test. Allrounder Ben Stokes displayed his class and shattered plenty of records on the second day. Without Dale Steyn, the South African bowling looks weak.
Stokes smashed the double century off just 163 balls, second-fastest by an England batsman in Tests after New Zealand's Nathan Astle off 153 balls.
India’s Virender Sehwag had held the earlier record for the second-fastest double ton off 168 balls but now pushed to third place.
Stokes also broke the record of Sir Ian Botham who hit a double century off 220 balls against India. - In his innings so far*, he smashed eight, which is the second highest by an England batsman in Tests. Wally Hammond smashed 10 sixes against New Zealand in Auckland in 1933 in his knock of 336*
The English left hander is the first England batsman and only the second overseas player to notch up a double century in Cape Town after former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming. He even holds the highest individual score by an England batsman by a No 6 batsman in Tests.
This is now the 2nd fastest innings of 600 runs in test cricket.
With 11 sixes, Stokes surpassed Wally Hammond’s 10 sixes record against New Zealand in Auckland in 1933. With 258 runs he also became the highest scorer in Tests at No 6.
