England batter Ollie Pope has belted India to bring up a ninth century in Test cricket. The number three batter came on early at the crease (4/1) before sharing a defiant century-plus stand alongside Ben Duckett. Ollie Pope, who was handed a life by Yashasvi Jaiswal with a dropped catch, completed his century off 125 balls. This has been a solid effort from Ollie Pope.
Duckett and Ollie Pope formed a strong partnership following Zak Crawley’s wicket. The duo counter-attacked effectively to take the score to 107/1 by tea. The two batters pounced opon everything that was in their scoring zones and kept the strike rotating. After Duckett’s dismissal post tea, Ollie Pope was dropped off Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling at 3rd slip. Despite getting both hands, Jaiswal dropped a catch.
Ollie Pope stood tall thereafter and didn’t allow India any inroads. He dispatched Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna for fours, especially tearing apart the former. In the 47th over of England’s innings, Ollie Pope completed his ton. He hit 13 fours along the way. Ollie Pope was helped by Joe Root from the other end and the two stitched an 80-run stand for the 3rd wicket. Right after his ton, Root was dismissed by Bumrah, who broke the partnership. Notably, Ollie Pope and Root took England past 200.
Ollie Pope has surpassed 3,400 runs in Tests. In addition to 9 tons, he has smashed 15 fifties. As per ESPNcricinfo, he has also completed 400 fours in Tests. In 14 matches versus India (26 innings), Pope has amassed 700-plus runs. He owns two tons and a fifty. In 29 home Tests, Pope owns 1,880-plus runs. This was his 6th ton at home (50s: 8).
Ollie Pope ton leads England’s strong reply to India’s 471
After a day of dominance with the bat by India, England fought their way back into the game, to claim the day’s honours even with a 265-run deficit. Ollie Pope registered his second Test ton in succession, leading England’s strong reply after bowling India out for 471.
There was something about the way Ollie Pope celebrated his ninth Test century that spoke volumes about the moment’s weight. After inside-edging a Jasprit Bumrah in-seamer towards the leg side, he scampered for the single and extended the run beyond the stumps with a yelp and a leap, a spontaneous burst of relief and joy.
Ollie Pope had scored his eighth Test hundred in his previous innings, a fluent 171 against Zimbabwe. But that knock didn’t shield him from the selection squeeze brought on by Warwickshire’s rising star, Jacob Bethell. Even with Ben Stokes calling Pope’s inclusion a no-brainer on the eve of the match, the England vice-captain took guard under his own personal cloud on a sullen Leeds afternoon.
He flicked the first ball he faced, from Mohammed Siraj to the square leg boundary, a confident opening that set the tone for a brisk counterattack. He surged to 31 off 25 balls, in keeping with England’s positive approach to batting under any circumstance.
There were shaky moments: a nervy LBW call against a Siraj nip-backer that stayed with the umpire’s call, and a sharp chance put down by Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully when he was on 60. But apart from those, which felt par for the course, this was a timely and terrific reaffirmation, a hundred that repaid the unwavering faith shown in him.
It was a big innings for Ollie Pope, not just in the context of his immediate future in England’s Test XI, but in the broader arc of his career. Coming into this Test, he averaged just 22.05 across 18 matches against India and Australia, the other two members of cricket’s so-called ‘big three’. That modest record lingered, even after his dazzling 196 in Hyderabad during the first Test of last year’s India tour.
Pope has often been a nervous starter, and his career so far has followed a feast-or-famine template. This innings felt like another swing at proving he could deliver when the stakes were at their sharpest. His teammate Ben Duckett who scored a gritty half century and shared a 100 plus partnership with Ollie Pope was awestruck and in full praise of Ollie Pope’s grit and determination
Ben Duckett is in full praise for his teammate Ollie Pope
England opener Ben Duckett heaped praise on Ollie Pope after their crucial 122-run stand helped England wrest control of Day 2 of the Headingley Test against India. Pope’s unbeaten century under pressure was the standout performance for the hosts as they finished the day on top despite an early blow.
Speaking at the post-day press conference, Duckett reflected on how composed Ollie Pope was while facing India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, especially in fading light and against the new ball. According to Duckett, Oliie Pope’s temperament and positivity turned the momentum in England’s favour during a key phase of play.
“I just think he was so calm coming out. He probably couldn’t walk out in tougher conditions-with Jasprit (Bumrah) running down the hill with the lights on. I think at one point he was around 50 or run a ball 50, so it was a great partnership with him,” Duckett said.
“I always have a good time out there in the middle with him, and I got goosebumps when he got to 100. You could see what it meant to him. He’s such a big part of the dressing room, and it was just great to see him be there at 100 not out,” he added.
India had earlier dominated the opening session thanks to Rishabh Pant’s counterattacking century, alongside his equally attacking captain Shubman Gill. At 430/3, India looked set for a massive first-innings score. But a lower-order collapse saw them bowled out for 471, leaving England with an opening.
Bumrah struck immediately, dismissing Zak Crawley in the first over. But from there, Duckett and Pope dug in with a mix of control and intent. The England openers were not without their share of luck—India’s fielders dropped a few chances, including a crucial one by Ravindra Jadeja when Duckett was on 15-but they made those moments count.
Duckett eventually fell for 62, undone by Bumrah’s sharp bowling once again. But by then, he and Pope had laid a solid foundation. Pope, who was picked over young Jacob Bethell in the England Playing XI for the Headingley Test, capitalised on the start and marched to a fine 125-ball century.
Jasprit Bumrah was once again India’s lone shining light with the ball, picking up all three wickets on the day-Crawley, Duckett, and the dangerous Joe Root. But with Ollie Pope still unbeaten and Harry Brook settling in, India have a tough task ahead on Day 3 to regain control of the Test in Leeds
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