As England’s performing captain, he scored two wins in two Exams, a sequence win over Sri Lanka and heads to the Oval with an opportunity of a primary house Take a look at sweep in 20 years. It might be good to be Ollie Pope now.
What’s extra, this all got here after a 3-0 sequence defeat in opposition to West Indies, through which the 26-year-old turned England’s second-highest run-scorer with 239 runs and was rated with 121 Man of the Match He scored 51 factors in 241 wins at Trent Bridge.
Nevertheless, he has did not bat on a number of events in his 4 innings in opposition to Sri Lanka to date, and questions on his use of DRS (which has put all eight critiques within the sequence in opposition to him) have led to criticism of Ben… Criticism of Stokes’ stand-in. Nevertheless, Pope insists he takes it in stride.
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Highlights from day 4 of the second Take a look at between England and Sri Lanka
“Chatting with Stokesi earlier than this sequence, while you’re a captain you appeal to extra consideration and it is necessary to dam that out and keep linked to the individuals round you,” Pope stated.
“There are a number of voices that wish to have their say and there are a number of cricketers from the previous and that is nice, everyone seems to be entitled to their opinion however for me it is necessary to proceed to belief the individuals inside the 4 partitions, As a result of this may proceed.
“Generally when you could have two unhealthy video games, you’re feeling worse than you really are due to the noise round you. For me, it is nearly making an attempt to remain stage, proceed to belief the noise round me, and do my job. Get into the sport.
“Once I carried out properly within the West Indies sequence, that was the case, so there was no want for me to get too concerned in what individuals had been saying.”
Pope has been named as Stokes’ alternative for the reason that England Take a look at captain was dominated out of the sequence via damage, his struggles with the bat highlighted by his dismissal in final week’s 190-run win at Lord’s. He made two reckless performs within the recreation.
This is not the primary time the right-hander has gone via a break in his 48 Exams both, however he has a philosophical method to the ups and downs of cricket as he focuses on bettering his consistency at first of his innings.
Pope additionally didn’t put the additional blame on the captaincy for his poor batting report within the first two Exams in opposition to Sri Lanka.
“I am not going to cover the truth that I had two unhealthy video games with the bat,” Pope stated. “Cricket is like that typically.
“I feel type comes and goes, however the most effective gamers are those who can draw a line in type and have a contemporary begin subsequent week and hopefully I can rating.
“I have been making an attempt to study and the final two video games have been studying video games for me as properly. It is one thing I’ve tried to enhance on through the recreation, particularly the best way I begin the sport, after which after I get into the sport it is also making an attempt to earn cash.
“I assumed I managed my recreation higher all through the sport. Clearly, the operating did not present, however I am not going guilty that poor shot on the truth that I am captain this week.”
There is no higher stage for Surrey batsman Pope than at his house Oval as England concludes their summer season Take a look at marketing campaign with a 3rd Take a look at match in opposition to Sri Lanka, stay sky sports activities Beginning Friday sixth September.
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Eoin Morgan impressed with England’s win over Sri Lanka at Lord’s and enthusiastic about the best way the Take a look at crew is constructing
The win will guarantee England win all their house Exams in a single 12 months for the primary time since 2004, after they beat West Indies 4-0 after which New Zealand 3-0.
England additionally accomplished the sweep with a stand-in captain on that event, with now chief Take a look at batting coach and white-ball interim head coach Marcus Trescothick taking part in in opposition to him within the second and third Exams. Substitute for injured Michael Vaughan in New Zealand.
“I feel if we will win all of them, it’ll be a very cool factor to look again on after six Exams over the summer season,” Pope stated. “We’ll benefit from the recreation, draw a line after which Going to the Oval once more however we performed some fairly good cricket over the summer season.
“We had a tricky winter in India and the outcomes weren’t what we needed, so to get used to successful video games in a row is absolutely pleasing for us.
“It’s all the time particular to be again on the Oval, the place I play all my county cricket and hopefully there will likely be crowd there.”
Watch the third and last Take a look at match of the sequence between England and Sri Lanka on the Oval on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 10am on Friday 6 September (First Take a look at, 11am) .
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and will likely be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, permitting Sky Sports activities clients to look at greater than 50% of stay sports activities free of charge this 12 months. Be taught extra right here.
