England superstar Ben Stokes has called for five-day test cricket to stay, after producing a stunning display in his side's victory over South Africa.
Stokes claimed the last three wickets in the space of 14 deliveries deep into the concluding session of the second test, as England wrapped up a series-levelling 189-run win in Cape Town.
The remarkable triumph was a timely advert for the five-day format - the future of which has been the subject of much debate lately - and Stokes reckons it has to stay.
Asked how good the tourists' win was for the current series, the 28-year-old said: "Brilliant. When you have results in the first two games, it makes things very interesting.
"We will all remember this for a long time and I'm sure South Africa will remember it for a long time. It will go down as one of the greats.
"It was an amazing game to be a part of. The fact it went all the way to the wire proves why test cricket should be five days and should always stay five days," he said.
"It must be amazing as a spectator to be living through these emotions, but being a player on the field, going through the highs and lows of what test cricket can do to you on a day-to-day basis is just awesome.
"Test cricket is not made for four days, it's made for five. It's called test cricket for a reason.
"They should change it to 'easy cricket', if they make it four days."
Allied to his six catches at second slip - a joint England record among non-wicketkeepers - and the swashbuckling 72 that bought England time in the second innings, Stokes' final rally completed yet another remarkable chapter for the sport's hero of the hour.
England captain Joe Root feels the Durham man deserves all the praise coming his way.
"You can throw the ball to him or put him in any situation, and you know he's going to stand up for you," Root said on Sky Sports.
"He's going to do absolutely everything for the rest of the guys, he plays 100 percent for the team and he's a brilliant role model for all the other guys coming through.
"Brilliant senior player. He stands up and puts in a spell like that, keeps running in for you all the time and we know - as we've seen with the bat - he can really change the game for you from any situation."
Reuters
