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Ollie Pope leads and offers hope to England against India with a magnificent century
While some of the messages coming from the England camp may seem unrealistic at times, internally, there is evident value in their approach. On the third day of the match, they operated as if the disappointments of the previous two days had been erased from memory, with Ollie Pope’s outstanding century providing a resurgence for England when hope appeared to be dwindling.
It remained uncertain if this effort would result in anything more than a 1-0 lead for the hosts by the end of the day. England reached a total of 316 for six, holding a lead of 126 runs on a pitch that had not yet shown signs of significant deterioration. Nonetheless, the fact that the outcome was still undetermined reflected positively on England’s credit. Notably, the player leading this turnaround struggled during the challenging pandemic tour of India three years ago.
Throughout two sessions, Ollie Pope successfully defended against every challenge presented by India. Notably, he faced a particularly exceptional burst of reverse swing from Jasprit Bumrah after lunch, resulting in Ben Duckett losing his off-stump and Joe Root being dismissed lbw. Pope’s resilience was remarkable. By the end of the day’s play, he remained unbeaten, having scored 148 runs from 208 balls. His fifth Test century was sealed an hour earlier with a rapid sprint for three runs, accompanied by a bright, joyful smile.
There were a few shaky moments for Ollie Pope, including a sketchy under-edge between the wicketkeeper and slip on the second ball and a significant life granted on 110 when Axar Patel dropped a straightforward catch at backward point. However, Pope, who had struggled in India, showcased his prowess at the Oval, quickly reaching 50 from 54 balls and then adopting a more patient approach. England emphasizes their flexibility, and unlike India, the sweep was a successful scoring option, with Duckett’s 47 setting the tone.
Support for Pope was crucial, especially with Ben Foakes arriving at a precarious 163 for five. Together, they added 102 runs, with Foakes contributing with a calm demeanor and deft hands. However, Foakes fell victim to a shooter from Patel, providing one of the few challenges on the day.
Instead, it was young Rehan Ahmed who partnered with Pope until the close of play, adding a further 41 runs to a session that produced 144 runs and raised a few eyebrows among Rohit Sharma and his team. India had earlier dismissed Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes in quick succession, initially suggesting a potential three-day finish, a scenario that was clearly not part of their plan.
The comeback started in the morning, marking England’s first successful session in seven attempts, and it was impressively executed. They efficiently wrapped up India’s lower order, limiting the deficit to 190 runs. By lunch, England had further reduced this margin, dismissing 89 runs for the loss of just one wicket. Joe Root played a pivotal role, completing figures of four for 79 from 29 overs and positioning himself for more success in the series.
Teaming up with Mark Wood and aided by the officials, Root successfully dismissed Ravindra Jadeja for 87 as a dipping delivery struck the all-rounder’s front pad. Although there was some doubt, possibly involving an inside-edge, the on-field umpire’s decision was upheld, and the TV umpire, Marais Erasmus, supported the call.
After dismissing Jadeja, Root went on to castle Bumrah, setting up a hat-trick opportunity that Mohammed Siraj narrowly managed to avoid. Ahmed then concluded the innings, stepping in for the injured Jack Leach and sending one beneath Patel’s bat. Despite India being all out for 436, England had a long way to catch up.
The opening pair, Duckett and Zak Crawley, responded with a spirited display, demonstrating a penchant for making bold statements. Crawley, however, fell before the interval, with Ravichandran Ashwin inducing an edge to slip after altering his angle cleverly. Meanwhile, Duckett continued to challenge Patel, maintaining an extremely horizontal bat.
The entrance of Bumrah added a captivating twist to the game. With a 15-over ball, possibly scuffed from repeated contact with LCD advertising boards, Bumrah skillfully produced sharp and late swing. This game-changing two-wicket spell in five overs added a delightful touch of Indian flair, captivating 28,000 spectators and showcasing the skill of Sharma’s spearhead.
Duckett survived an lbw appeal, not reviewed but displaying three reds on Hawk-Eye, before his stump was dislodged attempting an ambitious drive. Meanwhile, Root fell playing around a delivery. Pope, on the other hand, was struggling to fend off yorkers directed at his toes, eagerly awaiting the return of India’s spinners at both ends, though such relief proved elusive.
This sentiment was highlighted by the bamboozlement of Bairstow, who was bowled for 10 as Jadeja delivered a turning ball before executing a deceptive arm-ball in the follow-up. Stokes, too, was subdued, succumbing to Ashwin for the 12th time in Test cricket – more than any other batter – when he played inside an off-break at the score of six.
Nevertheless, it was England’s vice-captain who successfully managed to control the situation, extending the Test match into its fourth day and illustrating why some of the optimism expressed is not baseless.
