England’s Ben Stokes set about the bowling on the way to a 97-ball hundred in a practice game against SA Invitational XI in Potchefstroom, South Africa yesterday

AFP/Potchefstroom, South Africa


James Taylor and Ben Stokes hit centuries as England’s batsmen prospered on the first day of a three-day tour match against a South African Invitation team at Senwes Park yesterday.
Taylor hit 114 and Stokes hammered 158 as England piled up 470 for five by the close on their first day of action on a tour which includes four Tests against the host nation.
The tourists got off to a poor start as opening bowlers Thandolwethu Mnyaka and Junior Dala dismissed opening batsmen Alastair Cook and Alex Hales within the first four overs. Mnyaka struck again when he had Joe Root leg before wicket for 28 with the total on 56.
Nick Compton (58) and Taylor steadied the innings with a fourth wicket stand of 99 before Taylor and the left-handed Stokes took control against an Invitation team drawn mainly from South Africa’s secondary, semi-professional first-class competition.
Taylor scored his runs off 152 balls, with 14 fours and a six, while Stokes hurried to a century off 97 balls, then cut loose to take his score to 158 off just 34 more deliveries. His innings included 23 fours and five sixes.   
Both batsmen retired to give other players a chance to bat. Stokes was playing his first match since suffering a shoulder injury while fielding in the third Test against Pakistan in Sharjah last month.
England fielded what could be their batting line-up for the first Test, starting in Durban on December 26, with Hales opening the batting with skipper Cook, followed by Compton at number three, with Root, Taylor, Stokes and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow completing the top seven.
Gary Ballance, seen as a possible rival to Compton for the number three berth, did not bat on the first day although he was listed in England’s 13 squad for the match. With both sides able to use 13 players, the match does not have first-class status.
Mnyaka, who plays for the Border provincial team, was the most successful bowler, taking three for 66.
Brief scores
England XI 470 for 5 (B. Stokes 158,
J. Taylor 114, N. Compton 58, J. Root 28, J. Bairstow 35 M. Ali not out 33) v
SA Invitational XI

Cook has had his ups and downs, says Amla

Cape Town: The last two years have been somewhat of a roller-coaster for England captain Alastair Cook. A 5-0 Ashes hammering in Australia at the end of 2013 and beginning of 2014 suggested that his days in charge were numbered, and the lean run of form that followed with the bat further reinforced that.
But both Cook and the England selectors held firm, and now as he leads his side into a four-match Test series in South Africa he does so with runs under the belt and the Ashes regained.  It hasn’t come easily, and it certainly didn’t come quickly, but the England captain has won over most of his critics and is widely considered the right man to be leading the Three Lions into battle. “Alastair has been through a lot … some ups and downs … and I think as captain that just goes with the territory,” Proteas captain Hashim Amla said of his opposite number in Durban this week.
“You can’t win every Test series, although you would love to, and to endure some difficult times is part of building character. He is probably one of the best opening batters in the world, and opening in England is not easy.”
Amla has endured some tough times himself recently - the 3-0 hammering in India still fresh in the minds of cricket fans in South Africa.
That was his first series loss as Test captain, and he will no doubt be looking to bounce back against an England side he expects to be extremely competitive.
“Whenever the English have come to SA they come with a good bowling unit, and any side that comes to SA with a good bowling unit generally does well because of the seamer friendly conditions we have here,” he said. “It’s always good to be back home. It was a long trip to India, but largely successful with the T20 and One Day victories. The Tests were a bit disappointing but to back home is good ... I think this will be a good series.”
The first of the four Tests get underway on Boxing Day in Durban at Kingsmead.