OPINION | Captain Stokes is a real and present threat for Proteas

Benjamin Andrew Stokes' Test matches numbers against South Africa are as follows: Played: 12; Innings: 22; Runs: 1 028, Average: 46.72; 100s: 3; 50s: 4.

While numbers don't always tell a story, Stokes' returns against South Africa have been unforgettably impactful. 

He has scored 1 000 runs against two other Test nations he's played against (West Indies and Australia), but his average against South Africa is the second-highest against all the teams he's played against, barring the Windies (47.79).