England vs South Africa 2017: 3rd Test Day 2, 5 talking points

Ben Stokes' scintillating hundred, Morne Morkel's vicious spell and everything else took a backseat as Middlesex all-rounder, Toby Roland-Jones, set The Oval alight on debut with a rip roaring opening spell that accounted for the top four South African batsmen.

Such was the manner in which Roland-Jones went about his task that it was hard to believe that England had kept him away from the playing XI for over a year despite him being available for selection.

Roland-Jones' spell and Anderson's consistent lines pegged back South Africa, sending back half their side with the score on 47. Morris hung around for 29 balls to score two runs, but gifted a return catch to Anderson soon after.

Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada resisted a wee bit but South Africa were well behind in the game by then.

Brief Scores: England 353 (Stokes 112, Cook 88, Morkel 3/70). South Africa 126/8 (Bavuma 34*, Roland-Jones 4/39)

Have a look at the talking points of the day.

#5 Alastair Cook falls 12 short of hundred

Alastair Cook combined grit and mental strength to rack up 88

Not once during his 200 ball stay at the crease did Alastair Cook look completely in control of proceedings. He was struck on the pads several times, edged balls just short of the slips and misjudged defensive pokes against Morkel, Rabada and Philander. Yet, he had 88 to his name; 88 vital runs for England who had struggled to hold their innings together against the penetrating Proteas pacers.

Cook was fidgety on day 2, nudging, poking and playing with soft hands in the company of Ben Stokes. On 88, Morne Morkel delivered a cracker of a delivery to send him back. After bowling several short ones, Morkel landed one full and thumped him flush on the pads. The umpire took some time to raise his finger and even a review did not save Cook. This was the southpaw's tenth dismissal at the hands of Morkel, the most he has been dismissed by any bowler.

#4 Stokes-Bairstow threaten before Rabada strikes with new ball

Bairstow combined with Stokes in an enterprising stand before Rabada dismissed the keeper

South Africa are wary of this pair. After all, they had compiled a whopping 399 runs for the sixth wicket, a world record, at Newlands in January 2016. The pitch had eased out by the time Bairstow walked in and South Africa had lost the services of Vernon Philander to a stomach bug.

Stokes chose the right moment to dig in and slapped Chris Morris for three fours in an over. With Bairstow at the other end, one could sense something special brewing. However, the 75 run association ended when Rabada took the new ball in the absence of Philander and induced an outside edge off Bairstow.

#3 Ben Stokes overcomes testing conditions to slam hundred

Stokes smashed a fine hundred

Morne Morkel. Vernon Philander. Kagiso Rabada. Chris Morris. Keshav Maharaj.

There are few better Test attacks in world cricket today. None of that matters when Ben Stokes is in the mood, though. The Proteas had witnessed a Stokes masterclass at Newlands last year when he clubbed ball after ball while being exceptionally circumspect outside the off-stump.

Today, there was a different Stokes on display though. He nailed drives, pulls and flicks on a track where Alastair Cook compiled an ugly looking 88. This is exactly why Stokes is such an exceptional, indispensable talent for England. He has the uncanny ability to dig into attacks and overcome testing conditions to emerge out on top. As he slashed his way to 112, the southpaw could well have played the innings of this series.

#2 Toby Roland-Jones' stunning debut

Roland-Jones was unplayable with his subtle seam movement and impeccable lines

Toby Roland-Jones was first picked in the England Test team almost a year back but had to bide his time for his maiden cap. When he did get it, Roland-Jones ensured that he was noticed. He walked out with the willow in hand and slammed a run a ball 25 including a pulled six. But that was the least spectacular thing that he did on the day.

With the red cherry in hand, Roland-Jones ran in and persisted in the channel outside off-stump to induce an outside edge off Dean Elgar. There was a spring in his step as he tailed one into Heino Kuhn to trap him plumb in front. No, he wasn't done yet. The big fish was next as Hashim Amla nicked him through to Bairstow, leaving the Proteas at 30/3.

Even de Kock's counter-attacking methods did not work out as Roland-Jones angled one across him to produce an outside edge to leave South Africa reeling. The next ball, the Middlesex lad had Bavuma caught but Joe Root refused to go upstairs after the umpire turned down the appeal much to Jones' disappointment.

#1 South Africa succumb under cloud cover

England were relentless with the red cherry in hand on Day 2

How much South Africa missed Vernon Philander was evident when Toby Roland-Jones and James Anderson wreaked havoc under the dark clouds that adorned the green Oval. The visitors, known for their resilience, composure and temperament in the face of trouble, had no answers to some exceptional seam bowling.

Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock looked completely lost as two top quality seam bowlers delivered ball after ball out of the top drawer. At one stage, the Proteas were 61/7 and it looked like 79, their lowest score since readmission, was under threat with Philander also unavailable to bat.