Ollie Pope Reflects on Century as England Battles India in First Test
Ollie Pope's Impressive Performance
Leeds [UK], June 23 - England's Ollie Pope shared his thoughts on his century during the opening match of the five-test series against India, held on Monday in Leeds. He emphasized his focus on seizing every opportunity without letting external pressures influence him.
Pope showcased his skills against the Indian bowlers, marking his ninth Test century. Coming in early at 4/1, he formed a significant partnership with Ben Duckett, contributing to a century stand. Despite receiving a lifeline from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who dropped a catch, Pope reached his century in just 125 balls.
During the post-match press conference, Pope stated, “I’ve tried not to let it affect me too much. I’m focused on ensuring my game is in the best shape possible, and when I get in, I aim to capitalize on it. I’ve been working on tuning out the external noise and improving my game, while also maintaining a positive mindset.”
He acknowledged the long series ahead, expressing enjoyment in his innings but disappointment at not extending it further. “I’m pleased with my performance and where my game stands, and I hope to build on it,” he added.
As the first Test remains competitive after three days, India’s top order is building on a narrow first-innings lead. Pope highlighted the significance of contributions from England's lower order, noting that efforts from Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse helped narrow the deficit to just six runs.
“A deficit of 40 or 50 might have boosted their confidence, knowing they had a head start, but starting from an even position felt crucial. We managed to take two wickets; they played well, especially KL Rahul,” he remarked.
Pope expressed a desire for more wickets in the evening session but noted that the pitch was still favorable for scoring. “It’s a fast-scoring ground with a quick outfield. Tomorrow morning’s session will be vital, and the match is in an exciting position,” he concluded.
The day concluded with India leading by 96 runs after a thrilling session of Test cricket, which was primarily dominated by England. At the end of the day, which was interrupted by rain, India stood at 90/2, with KL Rahul (47*) and captain Shubman Gill (6*) remaining unbeaten.
Brief Scores: England: 465 (Ollie Pope: 106, Harry Brook 99, Jasprit Bumrah 5/83) vs India: 471 and 90/2 (KL Rahul 47*, Sai Sudharsan 30, Ben Stokes 1/18).