Hewu, Amazing, kumnandi. Ngangibona go on: uhlu luyamangalisa ukuchaza omangalisayo (Lapho, Ngiye washelela omunye e!) innings by Ben Stokes in the drawn second test has to rank alongside the best ever knocks in international cricket.
Ngazi - amaphuzu omlobi ngoba esho bleedin 'esobala! What his innings does do though is highlight the need for England to be able to not only spot talented individuals such as Stokes but to nurture them and encourage them to reach their full potential.
Abadlali abanjengoStoke bazoba nezikhathi zabo ezimbi. Kepha bazoba nezikhathi zabo zokukhazimula okumsulwa ngokuphelele. UStokes usezingeni ledayimane futhi kubalulekile ukuthi abaphathi baseNgilandi babhekane naye ngendlela ekhipha okuhle kakhulu kuye. Udinga ukuphathwa njengomuntu oyedwa kanye nengxenye yeqembu. UMichael Vaughan wayekhaliphe ngokwenza lokho ngesikhathi engukaputeni. It kusazobonakala lokho Joe Root ngalokuphelele, uyawuba njengemfundzisi lapho ethatha izintambo Cook (Ngisola ukuthi lokho kuzoba ngemuva kokuphela kochungechunge lwamanje). Ngakho-ke lapho uStokes ethola amadada ambalwa elandelana futhi yena i-bowling iyindlela encane-yesigcino bese unamathela kuye futhi umnikeze noma yikuphi ukwesekwa okudingekayo.
Ama-Kudos kumele aye kusethi yamanje - ayi-stratosphere kude nalapho ayevame ukuba khona. Ngikhule ngibuka (ukuhlupheka ngokunembe kakhudlwana) INgilandi ngeminyaka yama-1990 futhi yabona ukuthi badlale kanjani abadlali ababili 76,000 Izinga lokuqala eligijima phakathi kwabo - uGraeme Hick noMark Ramprakash - baphathwa kabi ngabaphathi babo. Cabanga ukube lawo madayimane ebepholishiwe kunalokho avele aphonswe kuleyo nqwaba yezibi. Lokho akusho, Nokho, ukuthi iNgilandi ikuthole kahle. UKevin Pietersen impela ufika engqondweni kepha kukhona nabanye futhi. Njengoba nje wena umuhle ngokwanele kufanele kube ithimba.
UBen Stokes umele ikusasa leNgilandi. abakwazi kuphela yena bat kodwa angakwenza isitsha kakhulu. I-England akumele iwele ogibeni lokumsebenzisa kuzo zombili lezi zinhlaka - kufanele abe ngumthungi wesine - okungukuthi. isipele esisebenziseka kalula kakhulu - ukuba abe ngumthungi wesithathu ekuhlaselweni kwejubane okuthathu.
“Ibhola eliphinki libonakala limpunga/eliluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ngokubomvu/okuhlaza ngokungaboni kahle, kuye ngokuqina kwayo. Ngenza ukulingisa ngobumpumputhe bemibala…”