England vs South Africa 2017: 3rd Test Day 2, 5 talking points

#3 Ben Stokes overcomes testing conditions to slam hundred

Stokes smashed a fine hundred

Morne Morkel. Vernon Philander. Kagiso Rabada. Chris Morris. Keshav Maharaj.

There are few better Test attacks in world cricket today. None of that matters when Ben Stokes is in the mood, though. The Proteas had witnessed a Stokes masterclass at Newlands last year when he clubbed ball after ball while being exceptionally circumspect outside the off-stump.

Today, there was a different Stokes on display though. He nailed drives, pulls and flicks on a track where Alastair Cook compiled an ugly looking 88. This is exactly why Stokes is such an exceptional, indispensable talent for England. He has the uncanny ability to dig into attacks and overcome testing conditions to emerge out on top. As he slashed his way to 112, the southpaw could well have played the innings of this series.