CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) Ben Stokes has an endearingly simple approach to batting. It can bring brutal results.
Explaining the tactics behind his 258 off 198 balls for the fastest double century by an England batsman in tests on Sunday, and the second-fastest of all time, Stokes said: ''See ball, hit ball, I guess. I just tried to hit as many boundaries as I could because it was too hot to run.''
That simple.
Late in Stokes' ferocious innings, which dramatically changed the course of the second test against South Africa, captain Alastair Cook sent a message out to the middle to warn Stokes that he would declare when England got to 630, so the batsman should try and get to 300 if he could.
The message Stokes sent back?
''I said it doesn't really matter because I'm trying to hit every ball for six from now on,'' Stokes said. ''I just tried to keep on going. I wasn't really thinking of any landmarks or anything.''
The uncomplicated approach allowed Stokes to dominate top-ranked South Africa at home in a way few players have done over the last couple of years.
With the innings, Stokes clearly realized the potential that has been recognized in him and drawn comparisons to former England allrounder Andrew Flintoff and even the great Ian Botham. The 24-year-old Stokes has heard those comparisons being made, he said. He doesn't think about it too much.
''I'm not trying to emulate that or fill their boots and what they've achieved,'' he said. ''I'm just trying to do my own thing and will always concentrate on doing that.''
Stokes' thing appears to be trying to make as many runs as he can as quickly as possible, a luxury he said he has because of England's deep batting lineup and the ability of the players around him to step up if he fails.
Often, Stokes said, it doesn't come off and he's OK with that. He won't always make double hundreds.
''I normally say `crikey' when I get to 30, to be honest,'' he said.
Amid all the records he set on the second day in Cape Town - the fastest test 250 among them - Stokes took far more delight in the simpler things. The best moment for him appeared to be the six - one of 11 he hit - that went over one of the stands and into the yard of the brewery next to Newlands stadium.
''I think I tried that 10 or 12 times before I managed to do it,'' he said.
