Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Image source, Getty Images

"A record sixth-wicket partnership for England against South Africa at Newlands, breaking the 117 between Mike Smith and Jim Parks."

South Africa are almost grateful to have Jonny Bairstow on strike. But the relief is temporary as Morne Morkel bowls a filthy half-tracker and is pulled for four.

And again... this time a straight drive to the boundary.

Big Bash? Give me this any day of the week.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Rex Features

"That's a rubbish ball - it's so wide I could have hit that with my Mum's sweeping brush. It's like a benefit match."

Ben Stokes is like a rampaging bull which has been well rested, fed and watered and ready to unleash carnage again. He's motoring towards three figures here... smiting another boundary backward of point. I've not had my cornflakes yet and England have added 24 runs. In 12 balls.

James Thomas: Worth getting up early on Sunday to see @benstokes38, external smash the ball about.

Image source, Getty Images

Hang on... I just need to adjust my television set. I think it's still showing last night's highlights.

Nope, it's OK. Ben Stokes smashes Chris Morris for back to back fours.

Fireworks at 8.30am. Nice.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"The hundred partnership came up in 120 balls, containing 16 fours. It's the first century partnership between Stokes and Bairstow pair in Test cricket."

Muddled thinking from Morne Morkel. The big fast bowler begins round the wicket to Ben Stokes, abandons the plan after one ball and then his first delivery over the wicket is smeared through the covers for four. The first over of the day is not yet complete and Plans A & B appear to be out of the window.

And again... another four through the off side. Stokes is wasting no time here.

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Let's play. Morne Morkel cranks himself up for the first ball of the day and is worked through mid-wicket for a single by Jonny Bairstow. England up and running.

Rt.Rev.Liam Reilly: I'll be excited about Ben Stokes when he performs consistently. Too quick to go off the boil with bat and ball.

Terry Mahoney: Let's not get too carried away. While stats aren't everything, great batsmen don't have a Test batting average of 29. 

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"The game got away from South Africa. It topped off a day when I thought South Africa bowlers had done very, very well. There's little movement. 220-5 gave them the impression that if we nick a couple away before close of play, but England took advantage.

"You have a chance for either side to grab the initiative, sense those moments, nip and tuck, ebb and flow through a Test match, then that moment comes. Who's going to grab it? England grabbed it. South Africa didn't - they lost the plot."

Cricket feels unimportant on days like today, but play is about to get under way in Cape Town. Can England ram home their advantage? Let's find out.

Ryan Sidebottom is one of many to have tweeted about their sadness. The cricket world is mourning and, as we just mentioned, the England team will be wearing black armbands today.

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Some sad news to bring you from the cricket world: Sussex seamer Matthew Hobden has died at the age of 22.

In a statement, the club said it was "deeply shocked and saddened". The cause of death has not been given.

Hobden made his first-class debut for Sussex in 2014, and took 23 wickets at an average of 47 in County Championship Division One.

England lead fast bowling coach Kevin Shine said: "His potential was huge. He was improving rapidly and I'm certain that he would have played for England."

The England players will wear black armbands today in Cape Town as a mark of respect.

Read more here

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"It was a wonderful final session for England last night, 150 runs really hurts you as a bowling side. As soon as the new ball was used Ben Stokes started to spread the field, it was psychologically damaging for the bowler, and this helped England."

Listen to TMS via the top of this page or on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Before I go any further, let me remind you of the scores on the doors.

England will resume the second day on 317-5, hoping to bat South Africa out of the game. Ben Stokes is 74 not out and the equally impressive Jonny Bairstow is unbeaten on 39.

I'm not going to say the first session is crucial, but...

Of course, Ben Stokes might also be out to the first ball of the day and finish with bowling figures of 0-50... but that's the beauty of cricket.

Here's a man capable of special things. Anyone worried about the future of cricket should sit a youngster down and play them a tape of Stokes taking on the new ball last night.

South Africa had waited an hour for it - believing it to be the holy grail which would see them polish off England - but when it came, Stokes whacked Chris Morris for 17 in one over.

Like I said... special.

Good morning everyone!

Welcome to day two of the Ben Stokes show.

What's on the menu today? Maybe a century, maybe a five-wicket haul.

The ability is there... let's see what unfolds.

Image source, Getty Images

Better than Beefy? Not yet.

The next Freddie? Most definitely.