Pope stated that he rated his fifth Check century “head and shoulders above the opposite 4” and described India as “in all probability the hardest place for a batter to come back on the minute”. On England’s most up-to-date tour of the nation, in 2021, he managed 153 runs throughout 4 innings with a high rating of 34 and stated that he had made technical changes throughout his comeback.
“I’ve tinkered all through my profession to this point,” Pope stated. “I’ve modified my approach barely for this sequence particularly. I had shoulder surgical procedure, so I’ve had a very long time to organize for this sequence and make some changes to what I produced the final time we have been right here three years in the past. I’ve labored exhausting on my sport and tried to tailor my approach for these conditions.”
Pope was caught at slip for 1, prodding at Ravindra Jadeja, in the primary innings. “We performed on some fairly excessive wickets final time round and also you realise that there is all the time going to be one hazard. For me, that was the skin edge,” he stated. “If the ball is popping away from me, somebody nicks me off and I get caught at slip, I’ve received to be at peace with that.
“It was about overlaying my inside edge and attempting to place some strain again on the bowlers as nicely with the sweeps and reverse sweeps… The blokes we face are very expert bowlers. You possibly can just about know the place every ball goes to land and if you happen to attempt to defend every ball there’s in all probability extra probability to get out than if you happen to play a cross-batted shot.”
Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England’s coach, have constantly advised gamers that there can be no recriminations if they’re out taking part in attacking photographs. “We practise these photographs sufficient and if you happen to get out for none taking part in a reverse sweep you are not going to get a load of chat in the altering room about that,” Pope stated. “You possibly can go and decide to it.
“I do not assume I nailed my first 20-odd runs, I used to be considering ‘why is it not hitting the center of the bat’. However then out right here it may very well be as safe as taking part in a defence, a sweep or reverse sweep. If we are able to maintain nailing them we get extra dangerous balls as batters if we are able to hit their greatest ball for 4 with a reverse sweep. That’s going to result in extra quick balls and extra half-volleys and open up the outfield.”
Dravid, India’s head coach, was notably effusive in his reward for Pope. “That was an distinctive innings,” he stated. “It is essential that we reply and give you some plans and a few methods, and see how we are able to possibly make him play these photographs from much more troublesome lengths and be much more disciplined… hopefully in the following Check match, if we get our execution proper, then I hope he makes a mistake.”
Pope had not batted in a aggressive match because the second Ashes Check in June, however stated that England’s pre-tour coaching camp in the UAE had left him feeling assured heading to India.
“It was nearly getting again on top of things and taking part in cricket once more, and getting my thoughts proper – going by means of these processes you will have as a batter,” he stated. “Prior to now, I’ve typically been somebody who wants a couple of knocks to begin feeling my greatest, however credit score to Baz [McCullum] and Stokesy for the best way we have gone about this complete week in common. I brushed that first innings behind me fairly shortly… we received into a Check match fairly relaxed now. We put in all that work in Abu Dhabi in the pre-camp and simply tried to take pleasure in it. That is allowed us to come back again from that massive deficit.”
Stokes stated that Pope had additionally proved his value in the sphere: not solely when taking catches at quick leg and foolish level off Tom Hartley, but additionally as vice-captain. “I maintain going to him for concepts, plans and what he sees,” he stated. “There’s a lot of various angles and views from completely different components of the bottom. I believed Popey, not solely with the bat this week however along with his function as vice-captain, was unbelievable.”
Pope stated that the function – which he has formally held since Could – has helped him keep in the second: “It is good to immerse your self in what you are doing. Somewhat than simply standing in the sphere excited about my ahead defence, which I in all probability did three or 4 years in the past, really excited about plans and stuff is best. There is not any have to assume an excessive amount of concerning the batting.”
Matt Curler is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98
