James Anderson returns for England

Ben Stokes scores the second-fastest double century in Test cricket history on day two of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

Stokes had been 42 when Proteas skipper Hashim Amla took the second new ball and, after he opted not to throw it to his most experience seamer Morne Morkel, Stokes went full throttle at inexperienced pair Morris and Rabada, brought in to the team in place of injured pair Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbott.

Hales and Rabada proved an entertaining match-up, the latter’s first two deliveries disappearing to the ropes before a couple of moral victories for the bowler.

Cook, who won the toss, and Hales shared a 55-run partnership, the first 50-run open partnership in the last eight English test innings.

The introduction of spin merely incited him to hit longer, teasing Dane Piedt with a reverse-swept four before unloading five sixes in four overs down the ground.

“I’ve tried to stick with what I’ve done in the past”, said Hales in answer to a question about a change in his swashbuckling approach from the limited-over format.

“It’s fair to say the 11 who played in Durban did a pretty good job but when you’ve got someone like him and his wickets, then if he is fit to go he’ll play”, Cook said. “He bowled really well”. It was very tough, I didn’t feel great rhythm and the margin for error is small on this wicket when you are bowling to good players. Rabada was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets while Morris and Morkel had one each. “It was a case of just going out to play and making the most of it”, he said.

Rabada drew the edge again in his next over but this time saw the ball disappear through the unpopulated third slip.

At the end of the first session, opener Alex Hales and Nick Compton were at the crease on their respective scores of 38 and three.

England have the upper hand over hosts South Africa to win the second Test at Newlands and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series, according to bookmakers.

Rabada made it two wickets in two balls when he dismissed James Taylor with the first ball after tea but Root and Stokes put on 56 for the fifth wicket before Morris claimed his first wicket in Test cricket when Root edged an attempted cut to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

Stokes was particularly effective against the second new ball, flogging debutant Chris Morris with abandon in an unbroken 94-run stand with the fluent Jonny Bairstow. The 48-hour gap between Tests was not enough for Steyn’s shoulder to heal, meaning young quick Kagiso Rabada will play his first home Test.