Stats: Ben Stokes scores second-fastest double century in Test history
The record for the fastest Test double century was set in 2002 by a player born in Christchurch. Almost 14 years later, the record was almost broken by another player, who was also born in Christchurch.
England are in complete control of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town thanks to Ben Stokes’ record-breaking double century. The visitors go into lunch on day two at 513/5, having added 196 runs in the first session of the second day.
Here are some of the records that were broken by the all-rounder in the process:
6 – Before Ben Stokes reached 150, only six English batsman had made a score of 150+ while batting at No. 6 or lower in away Tests.
21 – This was the 21st time a player had managed to score a hundred in a pre-lunch session in Tests. Stokes became the 20th different batsman to achieve this feat, Brian Lara has done it twice.
130 – The runs scored by Ben Stokes in a pre-lunch session was the most by any individual in the history of Tests. The record was previously held by another Englishman, Les Ames when he scored 123 in 1935, which was also against South Africa.
135 – Stokes now holds the record for the fastest 150 by an Englishman in Tests, beating the record previously held by Marcus Trescothick. He also has the record for the fastest 200 by an Englishman, beating Ian Botham’s record of 220 balls.
163 – This was the second-fastest double century in the history of Tests. Only Nathan Astle's 153-ball effort against England at Christchurch was quicker.
178 – The record for the previous highest score by an England batsman at No. 6 or lower in Tests was 178, which was helped by Graeme Hick against Ind in 1993. Stokes' is now the highest.
184 – Stokes becomes the 184th player to score a Test double century. The last player to do so was Adam Voges, who scored an unbeaten 269 against West Indies last month.
211 – The previous record for the fastest double century in Cape Town was held by Herschelle Gibbs, who scored his double ton off 211. Stokes’ effort on day two is now the fastest at the ground.
1965 – Stokes became the first English batsman to score a hundred at Newlands since Mike Smith did it in 1965. Curiously, Smith also made his century from No. 6.
1998 – Ben Stokes became the first Englishman since Mark Ramprakash to score 150 or more in an away Test batting at No. 6 or lower. Ramprakash’s 154 against West Indies in Bridgetown came in 1998.
399 – The partnership between Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow which is the highest sixth-wicket partnership in Test cricket. Stokes and Bairstow overtook the New Zealand pair of Kane Williamson and BJ Watling who had put up an unbeaten partnership of 365 against Sri Lanka in January 2015.