Olli Pope Prepares for Challenge Against Jasprit Bumrah in Upcoming Test Series

Olli Pope Acknowledges Bumrah's Threat

Olli Pope from England has openly recognized the challenge posed by Jasprit Bumrah as he gears up to bat at No. 3 in the forthcoming Test series against India. His statistics against the Indian pacer are revealing: in nine Tests, Pope has faced 186 balls from Bumrah, accumulating 86 runs while being dismissed five times. Notably, 140 of those deliveries were dot balls, highlighting Bumrah's ability to restrict him effectively.

Strategic Adjustments for Success

This time, Pope aims to change the narrative. He intends to rotate the strike more frequently to avoid allowing Bumrah to exert pressure with consecutive deliveries. In a conversation with TalkSport, he mentioned,

“If he’s bowling a good spell, I’m thinking, ‘Right, how can I rotate and get to the other end?’ And my partner’s thinking the same, so he doesn’t get six balls at you in a row and use all his skills.”

Technical Improvements Underway

Pope is also focusing on refining his technique. In an interview with The Times, he stated,

“Maybe getting my trigger in a bit earlier just to give myself a bit more time. With his action and where he releases it from, it doesn’t necessarily clock the high speeds that some of the guys clock, but it certainly feels like it’s that bit quicker. With the skills he’s got as well, it’s being aware of that.”

England's Decision on No.3 Position

England has confirmed Pope's position at No. 3 ahead of the series opener, with him surpassing Jacob Bethell for the role. Former captain Alastair Cook had previously expressed concerns regarding Pope's consistency, particularly in the early stages of his innings. In his column for The Times, he noted,

“My concern about Pope is how often he gets out inside his first 20 balls — it’s happened 36 times in fewer than 100 Test innings.”

Despite this, Cook acknowledged Pope's potential to score heavily once he settles in, a feat that Bethell has yet to demonstrate at the professional level. Cook believes Pope secured his spot following his performance against Zimbabwe while Bethell was participating in the IPL, adding,

“If Pope doesn’t play, it would send a strange message as well as disrupt the side.”

The England team is now firmly backing Pope, but with Bumrah looming, the challenge ahead is clear.