Ollie Pope Finally Gets Review Right in Fifth Test Against India

Pope's Successful Review Marks a Turning Point

In a thrilling encounter at Old Trafford, England's stand-in captain Ollie Pope ended his unfortunate streak of unsuccessful reviews during the fifth Test against India. After 14 attempts, he finally made the right call, showcasing his instincts during the opening hour of the match.

With the absence of the fast bowler Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson made a significant impact on India's batting lineup, returning to Test cricket for the first time since May. His fast-paced deliveries unsettled India's top order, particularly when he bowled Yashasvi Jaiswal with a delivery that angled in and moved slightly.

Confusion reigned among the England players as they debated the outcome of the delivery. Despite mixed opinions, Pope trusted his gut feeling, which left Ben Duckett visibly frustrated. Even Ben Stokes, the designated captain, appeared uncertain before opting to review the play.

Upon reviewing, it became clear that the ball had passed Jaiswal's bat, leading to three red lights on the screen. Pope celebrated his first successful review, while Stokes laughed and applauded as Jaiswal was dismissed for just 2 runs off 9 balls.

This marked Pope's 14th review as captain, with only this one being correct; previously, he had 12 unsuccessful calls and one that was deemed an umpire's call.

Former cricketer and commentator Michael Atherton expressed his delight, stating on Sky Sports, “His holiness, the Pope has called it right. His eyes are better than ours. There were two noises, but it was pad, pad. After a series of poor reviews last summer, he has finally got this one right.”

India faced another setback when Chris Woakes managed to dismiss KL Rahul, who was bowled for 14 runs off 40 balls after attempting to cut the ball but inadvertently sending it back onto the stumps.