• Stokes and Sibley punish Proteas

    Stokes and Sibley punish Proteas

    Opening batsman Dom Sibley welcomed a patient century and all-rounder Ben Stokes struck a hasty half-ton, as England climbed to 375-7 – and a lead of 421 – at lunch on day four of the second Test against the Proteas at Newlands in Cape Town on Monday.

    26 opening batsmen since Smith, Strauss

    26 opening batsmen since Smith, Strauss

    Andrew Strauss and Graeme Smith retired from Test cricket in 2012 and 2014, respectively. England and South Africa have appreciated some consistency from Alastair Cook and Dean Elgar since Strauss and Smith’s exits, but more than two dozen other opening partners have been tried and tested.