With the baton likely to be passed at the end of England’s third-day fightback, Joe Root insists Ollie Pope has set a new benchmark for his team-mates in subcontinent conditions and shown they can match India’s Spinners compete.
Root, who has five Test centuries and over 2,000 Test runs in Asia, is clearly the go-to batsman for the team to look to for advice. But the former captain told them to look elsewhere after watching Pope’s masterclass in the first Test in Hyderabad, an innings that helped turn a 190-run deficit into 126 lead, 6 wickets behind.
“I’ve watched a lot of cricket, I’ve played with a lot of great players, and it’s really special to witness,” said Root, who earlier proved the catalyst for the emotional shift by finishing the game. “Honestly, as a Overseas players, this is an absolute masterclass in how to hit the ball in these conditions. I think that’s the benchmark. I may have achieved something in the subcontinent, but not on such ground against such an attack.
“No matter what happens in the rest of the game, I think this is a long five-game series and we’ve laid down some good signs and shown that we have the tools and the skills to really compete in these conditions and continue to compete with our Fashion.”
Focus, fitness and skill were qualities Root highlighted, not to mention Pope’s ability to stay level during Jasprit Bumrah’s cracking post-lunch knock, which he converted with a reverse swing. Slow pitches are excluded. Then there was the manipulation of the Indian pitch, scoring runs on both sides of the wicket in innovative ways.
“He doesn’t rely on brute force or one aspect of the game,” Root continued. “He can come off the wicket, he can sweep, reverse sweep, play off the back foot – he can handle the reverse swing.”
Pope’s day started with a speech to his England team-mates before the game, something Root chose to keep at home. Ben Stokes formally appointed the 26-year-old as vice-captain early last summer, but a dislocated shoulder ended his Ashes season after just two Tests.
Root said: “That’s what you expect from a leader and over the last year or so he has certainly become one of them. Leading from the front as vice-captain has shown himself and our development as a team. For This is another big step in the right direction for this group of players.”
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Asked about his own role on this tour, whether the all-rounder should be his new description as Stokes’ most threatening weapon after 29 overs, Root replied: “No. Far away. But happy to contribute. I’ve never played that many rounds before. I woke up this morning and my body was a little shaken.”
