In his first innings as captain against Sri Lanka, Ollie Pope returned to form with a dominating performance, scoring a run-a-ball 103 not out during England's well-placed 221-3 on the opening day of the third Test. This was his seventh Test century and a historic one as each of his first seven centuries came against different opponents. Despite a strong start, England's opener Ben Duckett was unable to make the most of his innings, giving away his wicket on 86. Duckett praised Pope's ability to ignore the noise and criticism around his leadership and batting, proving his critics wrong with a stellar performance.
Introduction
Ollie Pope, England's new Test captain, made a resounding statement with a dominant century on the opening day of the third Test against Sri Lanka. This historic performance, along with England's impressive start, has reignited hopes for the visitors in the three-match series.
Pope's Historic Century
In his first innings as captain, Pope showcased his unwavering resilience and exceptional batting Fähigkeiten. He notched up a magnificent 103 not out off just 105 deliveries, setting the tone for England's strong position at stumps.
Notably, this century marked Pope's seventh in Test cricket, and each of these hundreds has come against a different opponent. This unique achievement underscores his consistency and adaptability against varied bowling attacks.
England's Solid Start
Pope's century was complemented by a solid opening partnership with Ben Duckett. Duckett, who was in sublime touch, contributed 86 runs before his dismissal. The duo's impressive start provided a stable foundation for the middle order to build upon.
Duckett's Praise for Pope
Despite failing to convert his start into a century, Duckett heaped praise on his captain's leadership and batting performance. He remarked that Pope had "shown character, ignored the noise, and proved the critics wrong."
FAQs
1. What is Ollie Pope's batting average in Test cricket? Answer: As of August 1, 2023, Ollie Pope has a batting average of 42.70 in Test cricket.
2. Who is the youngest player to score a century in Test cricket for England? Answer: Ollie Pope, who scored his first Test century at the age of 21 years and 324 days.
3. How many runs did Ben Duckett score in the third Test against Sri Lanka? Answer: Ben Duckett scored 86 runs in the third Test against Sri Lanka.
4. What is the highest score by Ollie Pope in Test cricket? Answer: Ollie Pope's highest score in Test cricket is 159 not out, which he scored against South Africa in 2023.
5. Who is the current coach of the England Test team? Answer: Brendon McCullum is the current coach of the England Test team.
Conclusion
Ollie Pope's commanding century and England's strong start against Sri Lanka have injected optimism into the team. Pope's leadership and batting Fähigkeiten have silenced his critics and provided a beacon of hope for England's resurgence in the longest format of the game. As the series progresses, it remains to be seen whether England can maintain this momentum and secure a series victory to add to their recent successes.
After repeated rejections by La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation, Barcelona successfully appealed to the Higher Sports Council to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. However, their registration is only valid until the CSD reaches a final decision in April, leaving the team with a limited timeline to utilize their talents in crucial matches. The stakes are high as Barcelona must secure favorable results in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League during this period, making the CSD's decision a crucial factor in their success.
The Indian women's cricket team, led by Smriti Mandhana, takes on Ireland in the first ODI of a three-match series. With the hosts coming off a series sweep against the West Indies, Mandhana and her team will look to continue their dominant form. However, Ireland's Prendergast brings valuable experience from playing in Australia and could prove to be a key player for the visitors in this highly-anticipated match.
In a thrilling match at the Kotambi Stadium, Rajasthan's opener Abhijeet Tomar's brilliant century and a five-wicket haul from Tamil Nadu's Varun Chakaravarthy made for an exciting game. Tomar's partnership with skipper Mahipal Lomror set the foundation for Rajasthan's first-ever victory over Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. They will now face Vidarbha in the quarterfinals on Sunday. Additionally, Haryana dominated Bengal with all-round performances from Parth Vats and Nishant Sandhu, securing a 72-run win.
In a thrilling match in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane led Al Nassr to a 3-1 victory over Al Okhdoud at the Awwal Park in Riyadh. The two star players each scored a goal, with Mane scoring a brace and Ronaldo scoring his first goal of 2025. The win propelled Al Nassr to third place in the league table with 28 points from 14 matches. Don't miss out on the excitement, subscribe now to catch all the action.
Real Madrid secured their spot in the Supercopa final after a thrilling match against Mallorca. They will now face off against their arch-rivals Barcelona in a highly anticipated final in Jeddah. Stay tuned for updates and post-match reactions.
In a thrilling match between Real Madrid and Valencia, Vinicius Junior's red card became the main talking point. After pushing Valencia's goalkeeper and receiving a straight red, the Brazilian forward's hopes of celebrating a victory seemed dashed. However, thanks to late goals from Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham, Madrid secured a 2-1 win. Vinicius later took to social media to apologize to his teammates, while manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the club will appeal the red card. According to MARCA, the Spanish Football Federation is considering a two-game ban for Vinicius instead of the customary four-match suspension for violent conduct, as they acknowledge that he was provoked by the opposing player.
In a recent conversation with The Athletic, Mallorca right-back Pablo Maffeo opened up about an old compliment he received from Lionel Messi. The Argentinian superstar had labeled Maffeo as the "toughest defender he's faced" after a game in 2017. The 20-year-old defender sees this as a trophy and is now set to face off against another superstar, Vinicius Junior, in the upcoming Supercopa de Espana. This will be the 11th time that the two players will face each other, with a record of four wins each so far. Interestingly, Messi has never scored against Maffeo in their previous encounters.
After a disappointing loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool are reportedly eyeing Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, should the current Reds player depart for Real Madrid. With Kimmich having excelled as a defensive midfielder and even taking on the captain's armband, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on the situation and may make a move in the upcoming January transfer window.
In a recent interview, FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal expressed his excitement for the Spanish Super Cup final after scoring a crucial goal in the semifinals against Athletic Club. The 17-year-old had just returned from an ankle injury and was instrumental in securing his team's spot in the final. He also shared his happiness in seeing teammates Dani Olmo and Pau Victor being cleared to play and hopes they will join him in the final against either Real Madrid or RCD Mallorca.
In a thrilling semifinal match against Athletic Club, Barcelona secures its place in the Spanish Super Cup finals. A long pass from Raphinha leads to a chance for Athletic to score, but a timely intervention from goalkeeper Simon denies them. Subscribers of Sportstar can catch the highlights of the intense match at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.