Ben Stokes: All you need to know about the IPL's most expensive overseas signing

#2 Second fastest double century in Test cricket

Despite struggling early on in his Test career, he bats at No.6 and is now the pillar of lower order

In the second Test of England’s tour of South Africa in January 2016 at Cape Town, England batted first and had lost half their side for just 223 runs. Stokes, who had walked in at No. 6, joined wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and piled up 399 runs for the sixth wicket.

This was the second highest partnership in the history of English cricket and the highest partnership for the 6^th wicket in the history of Test cricket.

In that innings, Stokes scored 258 runs off just 198 balls. En route to his best score in Test cricket, he became the second fastest player to score a double century. He reached 200 in 163 deliveries, which is 10 more than Nathan Astle’s record.

However, he ensured that he reached the 250 mark as the fastest player. He scored 250 in just 196 balls.