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[VIDEOS] Ollie Pope - Performance Watch

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"All of Trent Bridge stands to Ollie Pope." &#55357;&#56399; <br><br>Scorecard & Videos: <a href="https://t.co/GJPwJBNyRz">https://t.co/GJPwJBNyRz</a><br><br>&#55356;&#57332;&#56128;&#56423;&#56128;&#56418;&#56128;&#56421;&#56128;&#56430;&#56128;&#56423;&#56128;&#56447; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvNZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvNZ</a> &#55356;&#56819;&#55356;&#56831; <a href="https://t.co/qZ56Lg3EVc">pic.twitter.com/qZ56Lg3EVc</a></p>— England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/englandcricket/status/1536005597287546889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Ollie Pope on his hundred, his first at No 3

"It is very satisfying, the first one at home as well. It was an amazing feeling when I passed it.

"Australia was tough, I didn’t play in the West Indies and I wasn’t necessarily sure I’d be the first man on the teamsheet for this series so to get over the line was great.

"To hear Stokesy [wanted me in the team] and the confidence Rob Key and Brendon McCullum have given me is great. Hopefully it is just the start."

"It was awesome out there. I really enjoyed it, batting with Rooty. He is unbelievable and doing it week in, week out at the minute.

"He is so relaxed when he bats. He is in so much control. From a technical point of view, he scores so many runs down to third man. That’s what I do when I am playing well as well, so it’s a good little reminder for me."
 
First drop is a very challenging position at which to bat in Test cricket; hopefully following this big hundred Pope can now push on and make the spot his own.
 
Another handy knock for Popey tonight in the Blast. The right decision to release him back to his County for the weekend. Keep him in good touch and build on his Trent Bridge score for England.
 
We know how good a domestic player he is. He does not average 50+ in first class cricket by accident. But he needs a big innings in the upcoming Test series against South Africa to truly cement his England spot. There are still doubts for some.
 
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Butcher: Pope move to No 3 has paid off

Here's a bit more from Butch on Pope after his first-innings 73...

"He has got out of his own way technically. The move up to No 3 seems to have done him the world of good.

"And there seems to be an increasing maturity about him. I thought he played logically against the moving ball in the first innings. Clever batting.

"I'm really impressed by him. A lot of people thought it was going to be too much for him. He has proven most of them wrong.

"It was a really mature knock in the first innings."
 
53 off 62 for Pope against South Africa’s pace attack. Another good knock.
 
Ollie Pope is England’s top scorer so far in the Test series against South Africa.

168 runs at an average of 42 from the number three position is not a bad effort in a low scoring bowler-friendly series at the end of the summer.
 
James said:
Ollie Pope is England’s top scorer so far in the Test series against South Africa.

168 runs at an average of 42 from the number three position is not a bad effort in a low scoring bowler-friendly series at the end of the summer.
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Might need another fifty tomorrow!
 
A brilliant 100 from Ollie Pope - This seems to be Eid for English batters
 
Padre averages 43 at #3 compared to 32 overall. Keep him there.
 
Robert said:
Padre averages 43 at #3 compared to 32 overall. Keep him there.
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Stokes and Baz tactically and holistically backing this little man as #3 could turn out to be the latest in their growing list of genius moves.

Pontiff might turn out to be the monstrous first drop batsman that we have been lacking and crying out for since Trotter retired.
 
James said:
Stokes and Baz tactically and holistically backing this little man as #3 could turn out to be the latest in their growing list of genius moves.

Pontiff might turn out to be the monstrous first drop batsman that we have been lacking and crying out for since Trotter retired.
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The greater responsibility seems to have done him good. He has tightened up his technique and I expect him to push that average up into the forties.
 
Good innings by Pope, hope he replaces Foakes in test cricket.

Specialist wicketkeepers have no place in this era.
 
jeeteshssaxena said:
Good innings by Pope, hope he replaces Foakes in test cricket.

Specialist wicketkeepers have no place in this era.
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Seriously bad idea. Pope hasn’t kept in years. He will be exhausted come the second innings, after keeping for six sessions. I would always play the best keeper, instead of a batsman-backstop.

In any event Foakes has two test centuries in 31 tests to date. A similar average to Pope too.
 
Quality batsman, best short-leg in the world and can keep. He's only 23.

Surrey is English cricket's breadbasket right now
 
Pontiff under Root:

22 tests, average 30, 1 x 100, batting rate 52

Under Stokes:

10 tests, average 37, 2 x 100, batting rate 72
 
Robert said:
Pontiff under Root:

22 tests, average 30, 1 x 100, batting rate 52

Under Stokes:

10 tests, average 37, 2 x 100, batting rate 72
Click to expand...

He has definitely improved, but I still don't view that batting average as good enough.

He averages well over 50 for Surrey and his “home average” at the Oval is even higher, Bradmanesque and absolutely ridiculous.

I know that Test cricket is a huge step up but eventually I’d like to see him averaging over 40 in Tests for England.

It still feels to me that our matchwinning batting performances would come from the middle order engine room of Root / Stokes / Bairstow / Brook.

Although Duckett is promising as opener. :)
 
Robert said:
Seriously bad idea. Pope hasn’t kept in years. He will be exhausted come the second innings, after keeping for six sessions. I would always play the best keeper, instead of a batsman-backstop.

In any event Foakes has two test centuries in 31 tests to date. A similar average to Pope too.
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Foakes for a recall in the third Test.

Let young Pope focus on batting this time.
He will be exhausted.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
Goal keeper pope is very poor behind the wickets.
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Goalie is a bit harsh.

11 catches and 1 stumping in 2 Tests is not bad at all for a part timer. One of the catches in the first match was a stunner.

Conceding 19 byes however shows that Pope was there to backfill for Foakes during his illness and that he is not really a long term solution behind the stumps. He is a backup option.

Ive seen several worse wicketkeepers play for England believe me, and their main discipline was supposedly being the wicketkeeper.
 
<b>Pakistan v England: Ollie Pope remains focussed on batting</b>

Ollie Pope says batting is still his priority despite keeping wicket in England's two Test wins in Pakistan.

Pope, England's number three, kept wicket in the first Test because Ben Foakes was ill, then retained the gloves so the tourists could field an extra bowler in the second Test.

"My main priority is to keep churning out runs ," said Pope.

"I'd still love to tie down number three, make that my own. That will be my primary focus."

Prior to the first Test, Pope had only kept wicket in seven first-class matches, including one Test in New Zealand in 2019.

He scored a century in the first innings in Rawalpindi, but had a mixed game with the gloves.

He dropped a catch in Pakistan's first innings, and failed to move for an edge when England were pushing for victory on the final afternoon.

However, he also claimed a smart stumping and an acrobatic catch down the leg side off James Anderson.

In the second Test in Multan, Pope made 60 with the bat in England's first innings and had a largely error-free game with the gloves.

His take down the leg side to hold Saud Shakeel off the bowling of Mark Wood on the fourth morning, given only after a lengthy deliberation by the third umpire, proved crucial in England's win.

"I definitely didn't expect to be keeping out here. It wasn't on my radar," said Pope. "With the guys getting ill last week, it gave us another bowling option so I was happy to take it on. I've enjoyed the experience.

"I can still do better. I'm not even going to compare myself to Foakesy as a keeper, but I took my chances in the second Test."

England captain Ben Stokes has regularly called Foakes "the best wicketkeeper in the world".

Though England have the options of using Pope or the injured Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps, Stokes said Foakes' omission from the team that played in Multan was no indication of his future prospects.

The balance of England's team is likely to change for the two Tests in New Zealand in February, or Foakes could return if Stokes' side make alterations for the third Test against Pakistan in Karachi, beginning on Saturday.

Pope said he is happy to keep in the third Test if asked and that Surrey team-mate Foakes has been helping him with his glovework.

"He's the best in the world, one of my best mates and great to learn from," said Pope.

"In different conditions, somewhere like New Zealand, we might go with a more regular team. That's not for me to decide."

England hold an unassailable 2-0 lead, the first time they have beaten Pakistan in a Test series outside the UK for 22 years.

They will look for a clean sweep in Karachi - Pakistan have never been defeated 3-0 in a home Test series.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/63954892
 
James said:
<b>Pakistan v England: Ollie Pope remains focussed on batting</b>

Ollie Pope says batting is still his priority despite keeping wicket in England's two Test wins in Pakistan.

Pope, England's number three, kept wicket in the first Test because Ben Foakes was ill, then retained the gloves so the tourists could field an extra bowler in the second Test.

"My main priority is to keep churning out runs ," said Pope.

"I'd still love to tie down number three, make that my own. That will be my primary focus."

Prior to the first Test, Pope had only kept wicket in seven first-class matches, including one Test in New Zealand in 2019.

He scored a century in the first innings in Rawalpindi, but had a mixed game with the gloves.

He dropped a catch in Pakistan's first innings, and failed to move for an edge when England were pushing for victory on the final afternoon.

However, he also claimed a smart stumping and an acrobatic catch down the leg side off James Anderson.

In the second Test in Multan, Pope made 60 with the bat in England's first innings and had a largely error-free game with the gloves.

His take down the leg side to hold Saud Shakeel off the bowling of Mark Wood on the fourth morning, given only after a lengthy deliberation by the third umpire, proved crucial in England's win.

"I definitely didn't expect to be keeping out here. It wasn't on my radar," said Pope. "With the guys getting ill last week, it gave us another bowling option so I was happy to take it on. I've enjoyed the experience.

"I can still do better. I'm not even going to compare myself to Foakesy as a keeper, but I took my chances in the second Test."

England captain Ben Stokes has regularly called Foakes "the best wicketkeeper in the world".

Though England have the options of using Pope or the injured Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps, Stokes said Foakes' omission from the team that played in Multan was no indication of his future prospects.

The balance of England's team is likely to change for the two Tests in New Zealand in February, or Foakes could return if Stokes' side make alterations for the third Test against Pakistan in Karachi, beginning on Saturday.

Pope said he is happy to keep in the third Test if asked and that Surrey team-mate Foakes has been helping him with his glovework.

"He's the best in the world, one of my best mates and great to learn from," said Pope.

"In different conditions, somewhere like New Zealand, we might go with a more regular team. That's not for me to decide."

England hold an unassailable 2-0 lead, the first time they have beaten Pakistan in a Test series outside the UK for 22 years.

They will look for a clean sweep in Karachi - Pakistan have never been defeated 3-0 in a home Test series.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/63954892
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Poor Foakes. How many times has he given way to inferior keepers? He seems to know he is always on borrowed time. England have been sacrificing keeping skill for the hope of a few more runs ever since Alec Stewart.
 
Ollie Pope believes he has lost the fear of getting out following England's Test cricket revolution under the guidance of skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.

Since Stokes took over the permanent captaincy, Pope was promoted to bat at No 3 in the summer and retained the wicketkeeping gloves over a fit Ben Foakes for the series-clinching victory over Pakistan in Multan.

James Anderson, who has been around the national side for almost two decades, declared in the summer that, under the current leadership, he was "the happiest he's ever felt" in an England side, and it seems that sentiment is trickling down to the younger members of the squad, such as Pope.

"I feel a new player at the minute, personally, to what I felt in the past playing for England," the 24-year-old old Pope said ahead of the final Test of the series in Karachi, which starts on Saturday and is live on Sky Sports. "I feel I've been a bit more consistent, I've stopped fearing getting out.

"The two guys at the top have helped me grow, not confidence but the freedom to express myself and how I want to play. It's been great for me, hopefully I keep that consistency."

Pope has cut a composed figure behind the stumps during this tour and has taken 10 catches and one stumping in the first two Tests of the series in Pakistan.

Having filled in for an ill Foakes during the first Test in Rawalpindi, the Surrey player was entrusted with the responsibility again in Multan. However, he insisted that his focus remains on consistently scoring runs at No 3.

"I'd still love to tie down No 3, make that my own," Pope said. "That will be my primary focus.

"Obviously, different conditions, somewhere like New Zealand, we might go with a more regular team - that's not for me to decide, my main priority is to keep churning out runs at number three."

Harry Brook has immediately taken to Test cricket and, after three matches, boasts an average of 73.80, scored at a strike rate of just under one a ball.

The Yorkshireman's success has earned high praise from his captain, who after the conclusion of the Multan Test match likened the 23-year-old to Virat Kohli for his attributes across red and white-ball cricket.

Ben Stokes celebrates after England beat Pakistan

Brook believes the style of cricket played by the current England team has helped his seamless transition into the longest format.

"The lads just say go out there and do what you're doing for your county side, and I think I have done really," Brook said.

"I've gone out there and I think I slot into this team fairly well with the way I've played, I'm generally quite an aggressive player who always looks to score and put the bowler under pressure.

"So, it suits my natural game, and it's been quite easy to slot in, and the lads have been great. So it's been good fun."

SKY
 
Ollie pope done well - out for 51 now but 11 Test 50s now
 
His average is climbing after years of inconsistency. BMac & Stokes have helped him get rid of his fear of failure.
 
The 2nd Test against New Zealand when he scored his second ton after so long seems to have been the turning point for Pope in terms of his mentality and self belief.

His overall batting average in Test cricket has climbed from 27 to 33 since then, and the trajectory amidst this tour continues to be positive.
 
Ollie Pope scores fourth Test hundred, from 126 balls vs Ireland at Lord's

"He might not make a more straightforward one," says Mark Butcher on commentary.

Pope has not been overly tested in this innings and he has been a little frantic at times, but he has amassed 12 largely elegant fours.
 
Ollie Pope scores maiden Test double century from 207 balls

"The Home of Cricket stands to Ollie Pope," says Nasser Hussain as the England batter crunches Andy McBrine for six to seal the fastest Test double hundred by anyone on an English ground.
 
Pope goes past in fastest 200 on English soil

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Pope: I am now a smarter player

England were not smashing batting records in Australia a couple of winters ago, gubbed 4-0 in a series in which Pope averaged 11.16...

Pope said: "That last Ashes tour was a big learning curve for me. If I'm being brutally honest I don't feel like I knew my game well enough and probably wasn't putting quite enough time in.

"I'd hit a lot of balls in the nets and think I was training in a good fashion, but I wasn't thinking about my technique and how to attack each bowler. That's not me saying I wasn't working hard enough, because I was.

"I was probably not working smart enough. That's where I've got better over the past 12 months or so."
 
He is batting beautifully atm against India. Playing at 82 and doing some face saving for his team.

-----------------------------------

Former England captain Eoin Morgan during the 2nd inning of the 1st Test match:

"There's some real sharp turn challenging the outside edge here. Ollie Pope has done well, he's spent a lot of time at the crease.

"With that in mind, when the ball starts to do this it's more challenging for a new batter, so harnessing the value of the partnership becomes so important."
 
MenInG said:
Brilliant effort but job far from done

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KP: Brilliant century from Pope

Former England batter Kevin Pietersen:

"Pope came in at a time when England needed him to stand up and he did. He started jittery but that doesn't matter.

"A brilliant innings, one of composure, maturity and one that he will remember for a very long time. A brilliant hundred."
 
Looked like a village player on the first day, but this was sublime. Could be his coming of age.
 
Brilliant inning so far from Pope. Taking his team out of danger single-handedly.

-----------------------

Stat Alert:

Ollie Pope's 187 not out is the highest second-innings score by an England batter in India, after Sir Alastair Cook's 176 in Ahmedabad in 2012.​
 
What an inning this is by Ollie Pope.

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Highest individual scores in second innings by visiting batters in India:

232*Andy Flower Nagpur 2000
225 Brendon McCullum Hyderabad 2010
198 Garfield Sobers Kanpur 1958
196 Ollie Pope Hyderabad 2024
188*Saeed Anwar Kolkata 1999​
 
Apart from his 196 in the 1st test, Ollie pope has had a disastrous tour so far. Looked pretty off-color throughout the series.

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England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick has backed Ollie Pope after the vice-captain's run of low scores on the tour of India.

Pope, 26, made a match-winning 196 in the first Test, but has not passed 39 in seven innings since.

He was twice out for nought in their fourth-Test defeat and was stumped for 11 on the first day of the fifth.

"He's adapted really well in certain conditions and certain parts of his game," Trescothick told BBC Sport.

"The more he's tested and plays in these environments and tougher conditions, he's going to improve. After that 196 in the first game, we saw a vast improvement. It's just keeping growing that and encouraging that and he'll be a better player for it."

England lost eight wickets for 81 runs and 5-8 in being bowled out for 218 on the first day in Dharamsala. India moved to 135-1 at the close, in a strong position to win the series 4-1.

"For him the key is to not have played his innings before he goes out there, just to be nice and relaxed and back himself in that situation," said the New Zealander.

On Thursday in Dharamsala, Pope was again jumpy at the start of his innings, before running past a Kuldeep Yadav googly to be stumped by a distance.

Left-arm spinner Kuldeep, who bowled beautifully for 5-72, said Pope could not "stay still at the crease for a long time".

Kuldeep added: "His style is such that he steps out a lot and tries to dominate the spinners by hitting them down the ground.

"So when you have bowled three dot balls, you think about what he will try on the next ball. He stepped out early, so it was easy for me to change my plan."

Pope is playing his 43rd Test having made his debut as a 20-year-old in 2018. He averages 34.25, but his recent performances have been two enormous scores, surrounded by low ones.

England's number three has passed 50 only twice in Test cricket since December 2022, and on those occasions made 205 against Ireland at Lord's and the 196 in Hyderabad. He also missed the final three Ashes Tests with a shoulder injury.

"Ollie has his own little things he is trying to improve," said former England opener Trescothick. "Getting into an innings is always challenging over here, as is facing high-quality spin.

"That is part of his game he is looking to improve on. I think we'd all agree that after his 196 in Hyderabad we had seen an improvement and we saw parts of his game that are definitely getting better.

"Let's keep allowing that to happen. The more we knock down and put pressure on people, the challenges will come. He's definitely improving, as are many other players in our team."

England had only 13 fit players at the ground on Thursday after Ollie Robinson was struck with illness and spinners Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed earlier left the tour.

That meant 48-year-old Trescothick and fellow assistant coach Paul Collingwood, 47, were listed as fielding substitutes.

Trescothick last played for England in 2006 and retired from first-class cricket in 2019. Former all-rounder Collingwood played his last Test in 2011, and retired from first-class cricket in 2018.

"It's stupid isn't it, really?" said Trescothick. "You think at 48 to be still running out there and doing it. Me and Colly are really enjoying the opportunity to get out, run a few drinks around, be in the middle and sample the atmosphere.

"I'm definitely hoping to not on the field, but Colly is a bit more hopeful than I am. I'd field at long-stop, or under the helmet. It will never happen, so we don't have to worry about that."

www.bbc.com

England's Pope backed after run of low scores

England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick backs Ollie Pope after the vice-captain's run of low scores on the tour of India.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
He had a few lives during his 196. Still it was a great knock. But he reminds me of Dinesh karthik in terms of restlessness.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Apart from his 196 in the 1st test, Ollie pope has had a disastrous tour so far. Looked pretty off-color throughout the series.

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Pope scored a huge hundred in a Test that England won, the highest score in the series apart from Jaiswal, so regardless of other failures, a matchwinning performance in one of the hardest places for an away side to win a Test means that it can’t be a disastrous tour for an English batsman on a tour of India. Indian fans, commentators and pundits rated that 196 as one of the best innings they had seen in India for some years.

There are definitely lots of issues for Pope to iron out, and the gap between his domestic average and his Test average is still a concern (albeit he plays county cricket at the Oval which is a very flat wicket), but there is clear potential in him and he’s possibly the next England captain. I was worried that he would turn out to be the next Ramprakash, but he’s definitely nowhere near that bad.
 
Ollie Pope has vowed England will continue with their attacking approach to Test cricket but admits there are tweaks which need to be made

The positive strategy, colloquially termed 'Bazball', championed by captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum since they took charge of the red-ball team came in for scrutiny during the 4-1 series defeat in India at the start of this year.

England were unable to build on a stunning 28-run win in the opening Test and the tour concluded with an innings and 64-run defeat inside three days, but vice-captain Pope does not envisage a wholesale overhaul for this summer's home Test series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

"We still want to be a team where we're positive," Pope told Sky Sports News. "We've had some good success over here and just because we've lost this series against India doesn't mean we need to reinvent the wheel.

"For us, now, it's about tightening a few loose screws - that's how I'd describe it. We can take a lot of confidence over what we've done over the last two years or so.

"But we also realise we want to be the best team in the world and to do that we need to be better at what we've been doing over the last two years or so.

"In a few small ways, we can really hone in and become a better team so we can compete with the guys, especially away from home."

The highlight for Pope during the tour of India after returning to the team following a shoulder injury was his 196 in the first Test in Hyderabad, but across his nine other innings in India he only averaged 13.22 with the bat and did not score higher than 39.

That sporadic run-scoring was a problem for the rest of England's batting line-up during the tour as well and the 26-year-old acknowledged they all need to find a level of consistency which does not leave the team relying on one or two players accumulating big totals.

"We still want to go about that positive style of cricket and that freedom," Pope said. "From a batting point of view, each batter has had their own success in their own positions.

"Each batter is smart enough to know exactly how they need to play and to put about an innings and go score a hundred as consistently as they can.

"That's our next step as a batting unit, to be as consistent as we possibly can, and if we can all fire at similar times then hopefully, we can be a pretty dangerous side."

www.skysports.com

Ollie Pope: England vice-captain believes 'Bazball' refinement is 'about tightening' a few loose screws

Englands aggressive approach to Test cricket came in for scrutiny during the 4-1 series defeat in India at the start of this year, but vice-captain Ollie Pope sees it as only needing some minor adjustments rather than wholesale change for this summers home Tests
www.skysports.com www.skysports.com
 
In Ollie Pope's 11 centuires for England, his side has gone on to win eight of those matches. His batting is a barometer for how England will do.
 
Ollie Pope made 57(74) today against West Indies in the 1st Test at the iconic stadium of Lords. England in lead now against West Indies.
 
Ollie Pope continues to mint runs, gets to his second fifty of the series

He brought up his 13th Test 50, coming off 81 balls with five fours and one six against West Indies in 2nd Test.

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FearlessRoar said:
Ollie Pope made the most of being dropped twice as England's vice-captain went on to complete his sixth Test century on day one of the second match of the series against the West Indies.

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Century in the first innings, and scored 51 off 67 in 2nd innings against West Indies in 2nd Test

Ollie Pope is in fine form, he reminds me of Ian Bell

https://x.com/leonwedrac/status/1814685657710694711/analytics
 
England's ruthless approach has Pope believing 600 runs in one day is possible

The England No.3 has not ruled out his side breaking the record for the most Test runs scored in one day.

England batter Ollie Pope believes his side are still evolving and thinks they are capable of scoring 600 runs in one day of Test cricket.

Pope scored his sixth Test century when named Player of the Match in England's dominant 241-run triumph over the West Indies in Nottingham last week, a contest that saw England score in excess of 400 runs in both innings for the first time in their history.

With a series whitewash over the West Indies now the aim when the third and final Test commences in Birmingham on Friday, Pope has urged his teammates to remain ruthless and continue their climb up the ICC World Test Championship standings.

"There’s a real hunger - there always is a hunger - but now there's an extra bit in that batting line-up," Pope said.

"We want to be as ruthless as we can as a batting unit, but still play the way we do because that's our natural game. Obviously being ruthless is being part of Test cricket as well."

Pope's innings of 121 at Trent Bridge came from 167 deliveries, a somewhat patient knock by the 26-year-old in comparison to many of his previous centuries at Test level as England posted a big total of 416 on the opening day's play.

England ushered in a new era under coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes when they smashed 506 runs on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2022 and Pope thinks similar high-scoring days like that are not beyond his side.

England hold the record for the most runs in one day of Test cricket when they scored 588/6 on the second day of the second Test against India in Manchester in 1936 and Pope believes the current side can eclipse this total.

"I got asked on day one 'do you get told to play like that?'. No, we don't. It's just our natural games and the way we go about it," Pope said.

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

"There might also be a day where we go and get 500 to 600 at some point in the future as well. And that's a cool thing to have."

ICC
 
Hussain believes Pope appointment augurs well for England cricket

An injury to regular England Test captain Ben Stokes means his deputy Ollie Pope will lead the side for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, former England skippers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton discussed Pope’s appointment.

Hussain thinks it is good for someone like Pope to lead the side for a few games ahead of the Ashes Down Under next year.

“I think it’s good for Pope to be captain for three Tests, just in case, Ben Stokes does get injured in the future,” Hussain said. “They need other options. Just like when they go to Australia, and they don’t want a bowling attack that’s inexperienced.

“You don’t want to get there with someone [leading] who hasn’t done it before.”

However, the duo reckon that Pope has his set of challenges to overcome.

Atherton believes that the 26-year-old was in a slightly precarious position due to the temporary nature of the appointment.

“Essentially, you’re in a caretaker position. And Ben Stokes has left such a permanent mark on the side, Ollie Pope wouldn’t want to change that.

“While you are captain and you make decisions, it’s someone else’s team. It’s a slightly awkward position for him.”

Hussain added that Pope was yet to establish himself as the firm leader of the side.

“The feeling with Pope is that it doesn’t come naturally, [whereas] the feeling with Stokes is that cricketing intelligence comes very naturally to him. It feels like he [Pope] was given the vice-captaincy to get him out of that shell, the no. 3 position as well, we believe in you, which I think was the right thing to do.

“But the other side of that, when you’re captain. You’ve to sell that belief. Sell yourself to the team, your plans.”

The duo, however, do think that Pope is a well-liked figure and wished him the best on his appointment.

Like Stokes, England will also be without regular opener Zak Crawley for the series, who is missing out due to a fracture.

Hussain stated that the England management under Brendon McCullum would employ selectorial innovation rather than go back to players who have been dropped due to form.

“With this regime, in selection they don’t want to look back, even with their opening combinations. They really don’t want to go back to [Alex] Lees or [Keaton] Jennings or someone, they’re constantly looking forward,” Hussain said.

He cited Shoaib Bashir, who was selected with merely 10 wickets to his name as an example.

“They’ll just move up one, [Jamie] Smith can bat a bit higher, [Chris] Woakes can bat a bit higher, and maybe Olly Stone can. They’re [looking for] the younger ones, in the Lions game I noticed the lad Kasey Aldridge. I think that’s someone they maybe keeping an eye on the future.

“The [Shoaib] Bashir selection. They’ll do left-field selections.”

Atherton concurred, adding that Zak Crawley was certain to regain his position after he returned from injury.

“Stokes came over and said, “When Crawley’s fit, he’ll come back.” So they don’t want to overcomplicate it.

He added that the England management would look to someone like Dan Lawrence to bring their positive gameplay to the top-order for the upcoming Test.

“Old-timers like me talk about opening being a specialist position. But they aren’t interested in that, they want a middle-order dasher like Dan Lawrence in that position.

“And if you said to Dan Lawrence, would you wait on the sidelines or have a crack [at] opening. Then definitely, he’s gonna try and grab that opportunity with both hands.”

ICC
 
Ben Stokes speaking about Ollie Pope as captain on SKysports:

"I am really excited for him.

"There is a reason why i appointed him as vice-captain.

"I think he has a great sense of the game and we are very like-minded in terms of plans.

"I always found that when he was coming to me, it was something I already had in the back of my mind.

"He was the obvious choice as captain and I think he has grown into his role as no 3 then giving him the vice-captaincy has taken him to another level as a leader.

"The message from me was 'go out there and do it your way, the way you see fit to do it.'

"I have got all the trust in Popey that he can go out there and lead the team with the same ethos but with his own style and personality.

"I have told him I am not going to step on his feet, I will come to you if I feel like it is necessary."
 
Take out his sole Test against uber minnows Ireland and this how Ollie's record looks now

Matches - 47
Innings -83
Average - 32.02


And he's the captain.

Why this guy doesn't get any flak like Shan Masood ? He's just as mediocre.
 
Nikhil_cric said:
Take out his sole Test against uber minnows Ireland and this how Ollie's record looks now

Matches - 47
Innings -83
Average - 32.02


And he's the captain.

Why this guy doesn't get any flak like Shan Masood ? He's just as mediocre.
Click to expand...
and as Test captain so far

6&6 1st Test

1&- 2nd Test
 
'I don't like Pope as England captain' – Vaughan

England stand-in captain Ollie Pope is "not the kind of personality" who should be leading the team, says Michael Vaughan.

Pope, 26, is covering for the injured Ben Stokes, but his form with the bat has suffered - with three single-figure scores to his name since taking over.

On the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's, Pope was caught off an ugly pull for only one - a shot that former England captain Sir Alastair Cook said was "one of a guy who was on 120".

Vaughan, who led England in 51 Tests, believes the frenetic nature of Pope's innings should concern the hosts.

"I don't like him as the captain," Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast. "He's not the kind of personality I'd want as the England captain.

"He's quite an insecure human being - a great team guy and person but throwing the captaincy on him has added the pressure. He was doing great at number three.

"Harry Brook for me is an England captain in the making. I don't see Ollie Pope as that person."

Pope, who averages 34 in his 48 Tests, has failed to make it past the 20th ball in 38% of his Test innings, though does average 41.5 at number three.

Vaughan, who batted at number three for large parts of his Test career, said that position should belong to "the calmest player in the team", and believes Pope should work on finding a method to calm his nerves before he bats.

"He has looked so frantic for such a good player," added Vaughan. "I’m amazed that with all the psychologists and the backroom staff that England have that they can’t just calm him down a little bit and give him more of an opportunity.

"Look at Joe Root, who has the most amazing mentality. He comes out to bat with an amazing routine: he stretches and touches his toes, gets his legs going and sprints on. I don’t know if I look at Ollie Pope and see a routine or a process."

'It's not a big deal' - Root

Media caption,

Watch highlights on England v Sri Lanka on day one of second Test

The day belonged to Root after his sublime 143 lifted England from 42-2 to 358-7 at the close.

It was his 33rd Test century and moves him level with Sir Alastair Cook on the list of most tons for England.

Root dedicated his innings to his batting mentor Graham Thorpe, who died earlier this month, and says he has spoken to Pope about the challenges of separating batting from captaincy.

"There's not much to it really, you just go out and play," said Root.

"It's so easy to make it something when it isn't at all. He seems to be in a really good place with it.

"That's more of a storyline for you guys [the media] to play around with. But for him, it's just business as usual. I don't think it's a big deal."

BBC
 
Sky Sports Nasser Hussain:

"It's a bit harsh comparing Ollie Pope to one of England's finest, probably England's finest batter, Root."

"But the composure and calmness, he never looks fidgety and has great rhythm to his batting. Then at the other end you have someone who is trying to progress his career, does at times, looks fidgety."

"You can just tell in the mannerisms even waiting for the ball."
 
Ollie Pope in his Last 16 Test Innings:

17(38) vs Sri Lanka (Latest)
1(10) vs Sri Lanka
6(8) vs Sri Lanka
6(17) vs Sri Lanka
10(20) vs West Indies
121(167) vs West Indies
51(67) vs West Indies
57(74) vs West Indies
11(24) vs India
19(23) vs India
0(2) vs India
0(1) vs India
39(55) vs India
3(14) vs India
23(55) vs India
23(21) vs India
 
shaz619 said:
He reminds me of a young Sachin Tendulkar except he seemed to be a lot more sound technically and has that killer instinct to bat for the team rather then himself, impressive qualities
Click to expand...
Yeah . Proper Tendulkar-lite. The similarities are so obvious. :misbah
 
Sky Sports Cricket's Stuart Broad on Ollie Pope's batting:

"If there is anywhere Pope will be wanting to go to for runs it is the Oval."

"His record there is sublime, it is his home ground."

"Him as my teammate, I would be backing him to score some runs there."
 
Ollie Pope gets his first fifty as captain in 3rd Test against Sri Lanka

Fair to say that Pope likes batting here at The Oval.

MWSg0pZ.jpg
 
Ollie Pope becomes the first player to score his first 7 Test centuries against different opposition.

He has a ton each against South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland, India, West Indies and now Sri Lanka.
 
Ollie Pope's mammoth 154-run inning comes to an end. WHat a fantastic knock this is from the English Captain.
 
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