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[tim2000s]

Firstly, congratulations to Australia, said through gritted teeth. You've played a much better brand of cricket.

On to the point. Stokes has scored the first English century in the ashes tests this time around. Why?

It's it because he's simply shown up that the Aussie side aren't as good as the rest of the top order have made them look? Do the English batsmen needed a bit more 'dog' about them?

It's it because he is brilliant, and being ginger helps?

Or is it much simpler than that, in that the Aussie management hasn't yet seen enough to work out how to strangle him and set traps that he willingly falls into?

What's your opinion?

[iand123]

Gingers are slowly taking over the world

[Number4]

He played the brand of cricket the Aussie batsmen played.... with aggression and intent.. He didn't crap himself when the going got tough... He got going

[awp]

He proved he's 'got it' and in his second test match too. Well played. The challenge will be to maintain this excellent standard as the Aussies will now take him seriously and will no doubt revise his innings to look for a soft spot.

[Gerry SA]

Australia over attacked when Stokes came in on day 4.

Had they stuck to their bowling plans, he wouldn't have got a hundred.

[joeljonno]

Australia over attacked when Stokes came in on day 4.

Had they stuck to their bowling plans, he wouldn't have got a hundred.

Over attacked, yeah, Mmm, England did that too, that is why the Aussie runs came easily. That's it, Cook is too attacking.

Stokes has played well, and well done to that man.  Hope he keeps it up.

[mk_chappo]

Congrats to Stokes on his first test ton. Proves he's good enough to cut it at this level. I think it shows a bit of hunger and this is perhaps what some of the established top order players are missing. They've got their test hundreds, mid 40s average, do they really have burning desire to go and prove themselves again? They must be good enough players as there have been lots of 20,30,40s but there just not staying there for the big ones.

[ajmw89]

Stokes is fighting for his place and trying to prove himself. He's fresh in what seems like a closed shop. Too many players take their spot for granted as there is little or no competition. Something needs to be done to show they are undroppable. That might bring back the hunger and desire.

You look at the aus team of the 90's/00's. Their reserve list was a team that would have won a fair few tests! This probably gave the main team enough drive to perform and want to keep their place

[Wooly]

The thing I liked was there was no over the top celebration when he reached his ton.  A bit of a fist pump and acknowledgement to the crowd and his team mates and then got on with it again.  A lot different to the other stuff we see these days.  I like him as a cricketer.

[sgcricket]

That he deserves a run in the side!

[Red Ink Cricket]

Ill refer back to compton. two test tons in a row then dispatched. its good for him to score a test ton, good for confidence. it may have been in an ashes test opposed to a test against NZ but it wasnt exactly under pressure. we were extremely unlikely to do anything due to our shocking batting form so there was no pressure on him. if he scored a few then great. if he failed, hes the new kid on the block and didnt do any worse than the seasoned pros. hopefully it can kick start something but it doesnt mean he has solved that position just yet.

[Manormanic]

Andy Flower hit on a key point when he said that number six was a good place to bat in tests, and Stokes showed that he has the talent to do that, though I fancy in an ideal world the keeper - Prior or Bairstow - would bat ahead of him and he'd come in seven.  So what he showed was talent, organisation and intent.  Bell and Root already have these traits, though are batting in the wrong spots, whereas Cook and Pietersen seem to lack the organisation at th moment and Carberry is batting well for a guy who is just short of test class. 

[Manormanic]

Ill refer back to compton. two test tons in a row then dispatched. its good for him to score a test ton, good for confidence. it may have been in an ashes test opposed to a test against NZ but it wasnt exactly under pressure. we were extremely unlikely to do anything due to our shocking batting form so there was no pressure on him. if he scored a few then great. if he failed, hes the new kid on the block and didnt do any worse than the seasoned pros. hopefully it can kick start something but it doesnt mean he has solved that position just yet.

Not the position as it has been for the last four years, no - I suspect that planted front foot will cause him a few problems over time - but a variation of the Flintoff role, perhaps.  You have to remember that he gives England a fifth bowler, which was arguably the thing that stopped the 2009 team going on to be real worldleaders, which also allows them to be a bit funky in their choice of third seamer, say if they want to blood Rankin or, down the line, Mills.

[TangoWhiskey]

Hopefully they'll stick with him. He bowls at a decent lick like Flintoff used to and his batting technique looks far more solid. I'm worried that they'll coach the speed out of his bowling like they have done with Broad.

I would like to see some reconfiguring of the side. Swann and Anderson haven't been at their best for a year. I would like to see them sent back to the county game, if anything just to refresh their hunger for test cricket again. A spell out of the side might help to do that. At the minute they look tired and out of ideas.

[WalkingWicket37]

Stokes' ton proves he is ready for test level, something a lot of you were claiming he wasn't when he made his debut (or day-boo if you prefer).
Now I seriously hope he stays in the side as, to me, he has all the makings of the next Freddie. I've rated Stokes for a while so I for one am glad he's been given a chance to show how good he is.

With him and Root already in the side, is it time to start looking forward and getting a few more youngsters in? I'd like to see Chris Woakes, Chris Wood & David Willey given a go in the seamers positions, along with Finn and Meaker. The spinners position given to Briggs or Kerrigan (who was treated very unfairly in my opinion) an some of the young batsmen, Vince, Ballance, Ali, Taylor ect bought into the side over time. England's old guard aren't why they used to be so consolidating for the future may be wise sooner rather than later!