Tag: Ollie Pope

Ollie Pope believes England could yet score 600 runs in a single day of Test cricket in the right circumstances for Ben Stokes’ men.

Pope was one of three century-makers for the hosts as England won the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge by 241 runs, with Harry Brook and Joe Root following him to three figures in a series-clinching success.

Victory in Nottingham was also the first time England had passed 400 in both innings in the 147-year history of Test cricket.

Ollie Pope was one of four batters to score a hundred when England piled up 506-4 on the first day against Pakistan at Rawalpindi in December 2022, despite facing a mere 75 overs.

The England vice-captain believes the team now have the capacity to surpass that feat, but also an ability to adapt to more bowler-friendly conditions as they refine their aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach.

“I think when Baz (England coach Brendon McCullum) and Stokesy took over, we were a batting unit with, not a lack of experience, but a lack of confidence at the time,” said Pope.

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“At the time it was about building confidence, now it’s about hopefully becoming more and more ruthless.

“Sometimes we might score 280-300 in a day but that’s OK and probably because we’re reading situations.”

The 26-year-old Surrey star added: “We saw at Trent Bridge, when the lights were on and it started swinging more that was the time just to manage the game a little bit and that’s something we want to keep getting better and better at.

“But there might be a day where we go and get 500 or 600 at some point in the future as well. That’s a cool thing to have.”

England, who previously thrashed the West Indies by an innings and 114 runs at Lord’s, have now won a Test series for the first time since 2022 as they lead 2-0 ahead of this week’s finale at the Edgbaston ground in Birmingham.

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Ollie Pope rode his luck to a hundred as England ended the first day of the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge on Thursday in a commanding position at 416 all out.

Both sides had reason to feel frustrated, with the West Indies dropping four catches — Ollie Pope was reprieved twice — and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva missing a stumping, while several England batsmen gave their wickets away.

Ben Duckett launched the innings with a rapid 71, after fellow opener Zak Crawley fell for a duck, with England racing to 50 in a mere 4.2 overs — the quickest a side have reached that total in a Test match.

It was all very much in the spirit of ‘Bazball’, the nickname for England’s aggressive style of Test cricket under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

Yet for all his advocacy of such a bold approach, few England cricketers are better at playing a match situation than Stokes, who on Thursday made a measured 69 off 108 balls.

But with West Indies missing paceman Shamar Joseph who broke down in the last over before tea and the attack seemingly at his mercy, Stokes holed out off Kavem Hodge to give the part-time spinner a first Test wicket.

Jamie Smith, fresh from a dashing 70 on debut during England’s crushing innings and 114-run win in the first Test at Lord’s last week, also donated his wicket to Hodge.

Off-spinner Kevin Sinclair returned sound figures of 2-73 in 22 overs despite only being called into a previously announced team on Thursday morning after Gudakesh Motie dropped out with illness.

West Indies delayed taking the new ball until England were 397-8 off 86 overs.

Off the very next delivery Chris Woakes glanced Alzarri Joseph for a four that took England past 400.

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West Indies did bowl England out when Alzarri Joseph (3-98 in 15.3 overs) had last man Shoaib Bashir caught in the slips to end play for the day.

Earlier, Pope was dropped on 46 and 54, with Alick Athanaze at backward point and the usually reliable Jason Holder at second slip dropping catches.

Ollie Pope pressed on to a hundred, the 26-year-old completing his sixth century in 45 Tests when he hammered Jayden Seales for a 15th four in 143 balls faced.

His luck ran out when he was brilliantly caught by Hodge, high above his head at first slip, off Alzarri Joseph to end a partnership of 80 with Stokes.

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and opted to bowl despite sunny conditions seemingly ideal for batting.

Yet his decision was understandable given the West Indies were dismissed for just 121 and 136 at Lord’s.

It took West Indies just three balls to strike on Thursday, with Crawley edging an excellent delivery from Alzarri Joseph low to third slip, where a diving Athanaze held a fine catch.

But England soon regained the initiative as Duckett struck four successive fours in the second over of the match from Seales.

The left-hander produced a sparkling 59-ball innings on his Nottinghamshire home ground, with 56 runs of his runs coming in boundaries courtesy of 14 fours.

Duckett was out shortly before lunch, edging a good-length ball from Shamar Joseph to second slip, where towering all-rounder Holder held a fine low catch.

Duckett’s exit ended a second-wicket partnership of 105 in 19 overs with Pope.

England are seeking a win that would clinch the three-match series with one Test to spare.

This was their first match since James Anderson retired from international duty with 704 Test wickets — the most by any fast bowler — following the Lord’s Test.

It was also England’s first home Test since 2012 without either Anderson or longtime new-ball partner Stuart Broad, who bowed out after last year’s Ashes.

READ: Ben Stokes to feature in The Hundred after West Indies Tests

LONDON: England’s top-order batter Ollie Pope has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing Men’s Ashes series with a dislocated right shoulder, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Tuesday.

“Scans in London on Monday revealed the full extent of the injury and he will miss the rest of the summer campaign and will require surgery,” said ECB in a press release.

“He will work closely with the England and Surrey medical teams in respect of his rehabilitation.”

Despite Ollie Pope’s exclusion, the ECB opted not to call up a replacement for the third Ashes Test, which starts at Headingley on Thursday.

Meanwhile, middle-order batter Dan Lawrence, who is a part of England’s squad for the third Test, is all set to slot in at No.3 in Ollie Pope’s place.

“England will not call up a replacement for the third Ashes Test, which starts at Headingley on Thursday.”

Notably, Pope left the field twice due to injury after diving to stop the ball on both occasions. He, however, batted at his usual No.3 spot in both innings.

It is worth mentioning here that Ollie Pope, who averages 34.45 from 38 Tests, has previously dealt with shoulder issues, spending significant periods recuperating after dislocating his left shoulder twice.

He has scored 90 runs in two matches in the ongoing Ashes series, having started England’s Test summer with a maiden double-century against Ireland at Lord’s.

Ollie Pope’s exclusion marked a fresh blow to England’s Ashes campaign, who are 0-2 down in the five-match series.

Ben Stokes-led England are eyeing a miraculous comeback in the Ashes remainder and will have to imitate an 86-year-old record of Don Bradman’s Australian side to shrug off the 2-0 deficit to win an Ashes series.

READ: Pakistan men and women’s teams to tour England for white-ball series

KARACHI: England’s wicket-keeper batter Ollie Pope surprised a young Pakistan by giving him a special gift on Tuesday in the final Test at National Bank Cricket Arena.

England sealed a sensational eight-wicket early on day four of the third Test and became the first team to clean-sweep Pakistan in a Test series at home.

Soon after the conclusion of the match, Pope went towards the stands where a few enthusiastic young Pakistani fans were waving at him. He responded to their affection by tossing his shoes towards one of the children.

Pope remained one of the leading run-getters for England in the Test series as he accumulated 238 runs with help of a century and two fifties.

Moreover, the English player also gifted signed cricket balls to Pakistani fans present in the stadium as a token of appreciation.

It is pertinent to mention here this was England’s first Test tour of Pakistan since 2005.

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