Second Test. SA v England. Cape Town, Jan 2-6

[m@tt]

50 and out again for root, awful shot

he has been so frustrating all year in test matches, looks imperious then plays a stupid shot and nicks behind

all day we have looked like getting into a strong position but then losing a wicket

Hope it's not catching because that was often one of the big criticisms of Bell who has 46 Test 50s.

He needs to be as ruthless as Smith, warner and Williamson

He should easily have another 5 hundreds on his resume

He'll get there. Cook went through a similar spell, albeit more extreme - in 2008 he scored 8 fifties but no hundreds from 21 innings.

[Aidan11]

A shame the game has finished for the day as those two were well set.

Got a feeling the momentum will be lost having to start again tomorrow.

[Aidan11]

Is Morkel injured?

[Dr Cricket]

Stokes haters not gonna like this, although can understand why he not liked, very overrated by the media and selectors really.
Still he has the potential to be a very good player.

[Alviro Patterson]

We're still in a good position. Just need these two to stay in.

and stayed in they have, enterprising stuff from Stokes and Bairstow

Nice to see Bairstow looking comfortable at the crease and playing his natural game.

[Making_Splinters]

Stokes haters not gonna like this, although can understand why he not liked, very overrated by the media and selectors really.
Still he has the potential to be a very good player.

Potential, yes but after 20 tests he averages less of than 30 with the bat and over 40 with the ball. He has shown glimpses of the player he could be but it will take a heck of a lot more days like today to convince people he belongs in the side.

[Aidan11]

Stokes haters not gonna like this, although can understand why he not liked, very overrated by the media and selectors really.
Still he has the potential to be a very good player.

The problem is Stokes has been built up to be another Botham or Flintoff so there is disappointment when Stokes fails to entertain the crowds with the bat. What the media forget is the memory plays tricks and even Botham had quite a few failures as did Flintoff. No batsman can try and hit every ball over the fence with a high success rate.

[Making_Splinters]

50 and out again for root, awful shot

he has been so frustrating all year in test matches, looks imperious then plays a stupid shot and nicks behind

all day we have looked like getting into a strong position but then losing a wicket

Hope it's not catching because that was often one of the big criticisms of Bell who has 46 Test 50s.

He needs to be as ruthless as Smith, warner and Williamson

He should easily have another 5 hundreds on his resume

He'll get there. Cook went through a similar spell, albeit more extreme - in 2008 he scored 8 fifties but no hundreds from 21 innings.

Root, much like Bell, is struggling with transitioning from the early part of his innings into the commanding later stages when we'll set. At least unlike Bell this happens when he's already got 50 on the board. It is easy to forget that he's played less than 40 tests and is already England's most valued wicket.

[Dr Cricket]

Stokes haters not gonna like this, although can understand why he not liked, very overrated by the media and selectors really.
Still he has the potential to be a very good player.

The problem is Stokes has been built up to be another Botham or Flintoff so there is disappointment when Stokes fails to entertain the crowds with the bat. What the media forget is the memory plays tricks and even Botham had quite a few failures as did Flintoff. No batsman can try and hit every ball over the fence with a high success rate.

true that so annoying even flintoff said stokes should look to be far better than him.
Flintoff think he wasn't consistent enough to be a top all rounder which is true plus he had a dreadful injuries record.

Stokes is very inconsistent barring the NZ lords game not sure he won a game on his own or changed the game massively like a top all rounder should.
Stokes bowling needs to improve massively to justify playing in the top 6 while his batting not that great.
really Ali/Stokes should be using the same slot unless one of them is a top 6 bat which sadly for england both don't really have the ability or potential to be a top 6 bat.

Wonder when Stokes will have his crazy year or series when he wins matches on his own like Flintoff did in 2004-2005.

Always funny how all rounder especially paces ones are looked through rose twinkles eyes, they could be crap for like 85% of their career but will always be remembered for their special knocks or series.

[Dr Cricket]

Stokes haters not gonna like this, although can understand why he not liked, very overrated by the media and selectors really.
Still he has the potential to be a very good player.

Potential, yes but after 20 tests he averages less of than 30 with the bat and over 40 with the ball. He has shown glimpses of the player he could be but it will take a heck of a lot more days like today to convince people he belongs in the side.

yeah agree.
Do think england still don't know his best position in the team, he isn't a bowler yet and he is not a top 6 bat.
Stokes should be batting at 7.
looks like England selectors don't wanna move him or drop him because of the shambolic mistakes they did in 2014.

don't think he should be a guaranteed pick like he is now.

[backfootpunch]

stokes is worth persisting with, if we show faith in him now he could easily be the key player in our team a year or two down the line

batting wise he should be a lot better than freddie who other than 2003-2006 was very poor with the bat

with the balance he gives to our bowling attack and the lack of batting options i cant really see anyone in england who would be picked ahead of him

[greyblazer]

With Stokes, you will always see him fail in 4-5 innings. However, he has it in him to change the course of the game in a short space of time. You want such players in your side. Players like him should not be looked through just averages.

[Dr Cricket]

stokes is worth persisting with, if we show faith in him now he could easily be the key player in our team a year or two down the line

batting wise he should be a lot better than freddie who other than 2003-2006 was very poor with the bat

with the balance he gives to our bowling attack and the lack of batting options i cant really see anyone in england who would be picked ahead of him

really don't see anything special with stokes in the bat, really looks a flat track bully/good score bully.
nothing wrong with that if he bat at 7 or 8, don't really want him batting in the top 6.
Stokes isn't really gonna score runs away from home or under pressure.
In reality the only decks he will look world class in terms of batting will be Aussie/SA type wicket, he really likes pace and bounce.

Really only one of Ali/Stokes should be playing.
get tricky with stokes not yet being good enough with the ball or the bat.
England not having a gun 4th seam option or spinner to allow Stokes to bat at 7.

[greyblazer]

That Lord's track was not a flat one. Even this one is not a flat track either.

[Dr Cricket]

With Stokes, you will always see him fail in 4-5 innings. However, he has it in him to change the course of the game in a short space of time. You want such players in your side. Players like him should not be looked through just averages.

shouldn't be batting in the top 6 though, 7 the perfect position for him.
if you batting in the top 6 the players should be averaging around 35-40 with the bat.

if he batting in the top 6 Stokes has to justify his batting average.