Trevor Bayliss: Ben Stokes can score another 258

Cape Town: England coach Trevor Bayliss believes all-rounder Ben Stokes is capable of playing another innings like his record-breaking 258 against South Africa. Stokes blasted the fastest 250 in Test history, taking just 198 deliveries in the drawn second Test between the two countries in Cape Town. After the innings, Stokes ,, said: “I probably won’t play like this ever again.” But Bayliss thinks otherwise. “I’m not sure it was a one-off. It’s quite possible he could do it again, he’s that type of player,” Bayliss was quoted as saying by BBC on Thursday. “He’s in the prime of his career and we all look forward to watching more of that.” Full Cricket Scorecard: South Africa vs England, 2nd Test at Cape Town

The former Kolkata Knight Riders’ coach also defended Stokes after the all-rounder seemingly used foul language against South African batsman Temba Bavuma, who made a century. “He’s a guy that plays the game with passion. As he gets older, he’ll tone it down a little bit and he’ll realise that some comments come back to bite you,” said Bayliss. England lead their four-match series 1-0, having won the first Test in Durban.

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Ben Stokes’ journey has been one of ups and downs but the England all-rounder has been a revelation in the past one year. The left-handed batsman, who has successfully established himself as the first-choice all-rounder in Test cricket, has already registered a fastest ever double century in the longest format of the game for England. While Stokes’ career graph is on a steady rise since last one year or so, it has been revealed that there was a mystery donator, who supported a wayward youngster during his formative years with financial help. Stokes’ coach is aware of the identity, but he has said that it will remain a secret forever.