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.
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