Stokes declares fitness after big hundred

Ben Stokes has confirmed what the evidence of his powerful hitting at Potchefstroom appeared to suggest, that he is fully recovered from the shoulder injury that he sustained during last month's Test series against Pakistan, and will take his place as England's allrounder for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa at Durban.

Stokes allayed any lingering doubts about his fitness by scoring a hard-hitting 158 from 131 balls on the opening day of England's tour match against a South Africa Invitational XI at Senwes Park, including five sixes and 23 fours.

It was his first full-throttle innings since landing awkwardly on the point of his shoulder during the third Test in Sharjah in November, an injury that onlookers had initially feared was a dislocation.

However, he came out to bat at No. 11 and No. 10 in that match, an early sign that it was not as serious as first feared, and though he missed the one-day and T20 leg of the UAE tour, the month's rest and recuperation meant that he was back to full power this afternoon.

"There's been no pain and I haven't twinged it or anything so far, so touch wood nothing bad happens again," he said at the close of play. "The first two weeks after I did it is was a little bit sore, I was worried about if I was going to be fit, but I did everything to make sure that I was on the plane out here.

"I worked really hard with the physios at the ECB and Durham, followed all the medical advice, which is unlike me, as I just wanted to make sure I was fit."

Stokes' innings was the centrepiece of an impressive first-day performance from England, who recovered from the early loss of both openers - including Alex Hales, who made 8 in his first outing ahead of his planned Test debut on Boxing Day - to reach the close on 470 for 5, with James Taylor (114) also making a hundred before retiring to give others a bat.

"It's always nice to get runs in these warm-up games, it's what they're used for," said Stokes. "But now it's a case of not getting too far ahead of myself and trying to keep the form I have shown up to the first Test."

Stokes' next test will come on the second day, when he will bowl in a match for the first time since his injury, and throw himself around in the field as well. However, he has no concerns about coming through that examination, having worked up a good head of steam in the nets already.

"I'm fully fit to bowl, I'm 100 percent fit," he said. "I have done the same amount of bowling work as I have batting work back at home and then out here in the nets.

"I've been working in a couple of training sessions on diving because I think that's going to be the main thing, but bowling and batting there's been no pain."