Ben Stokes has returned to the squad for the second Test between England and South Africa at Newlands on Friday. Four years ago Stokes smashed 258 off 198 balls with 11 sixes and sharing in a world Test record sixth-wicket partnership of 399 with Jonny Bairstow, whose 150 not out from 191 balls was equally valuable. England won that match 1-0 in a four-Test series. This time England need to pull up their shocks after losing the first Test.

Ben Stokes has been in great form with the bat. He has been scoring since Ashes. However, Newlands in 2016 provided an unusual pitch for batsmen, where both teams scored over 600 in first innings. This time, a fair contest between bat and ball can be expected.

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After winning the first Test in Centurion by a whopping 107 runs, South Africa would love to continue the form. Pieter Malan expected to win his maiden Test cap in place of the injured Aiden Markram. On the other hand, England might go with a spinner. With this, either James Anderson or Stuart Broad has to be out. However, with this team, England will try to get back in winning groove and who doesn’t know what wonders Ben Stokes can do single-handedly.

Probable teams:

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Pieter Malan, Zubayr Hamza, Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Dwaine Pretorius, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje

England: Joe Root (captain), Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Joe Denly, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wkt), Sam Curran, Dom Bess, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad