England batter Ollie Pope credited the changes in his technique specifically for the IND vs ENG Test series after his 196-run knock helped England secure a 28-run win in the 1st Test. Pope narrowly missed out on a well deserved double century, as Bumrah managed to stop his onslaught.
IND vs ENG: Pope reveals his gameplan after Hyderabad show
Speaking after England’s victorious outing, Pope acknowledged that his knock was outstanding, considering it came in India – a toughest place for a batter. Admitting that he did get lucky on many occasions in the 2nd innings, the batter revealed that he had ‘tinkered through his career’ and had made specific changes for this very series.
“To come here to India, toughest place as a batter and put in a winning performance, it’s head and shoulders above the rest. I got a bit luckier in the second innings, played and missed a few. Wanted to be positive with my sweep and reverse-sweep. I’ve tinkered through my career, changed my technique specifically for this series. The family have had early starts but can catch up on some sleep now,” Pope said.
Facing a 190-run deficit and staring down the barrel of defeat at 163/5 yesterday, Ollie Pope orchestrated a stunning rescue act on Day 4. His unorthodox sweeps and reverse-sweeps against the Indian spinners defied conventional wisdom and unsettled the home team’s attack.
But Ollie Pope wasn’t a lone showman. He built three crucial partnerships – 112, 64, and 80 – with the lower order, refusing to let India roll England over. This wasn’t a one-man effort; it was a testament to Pope’s leadership and his ability to rally his team even when the odds were stacked against them.
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