'Once he's in, he'll always punish you': Stuart Broad praises Ollie Pope | Cricket News

England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope responded to the increasing pressure with a brilliant unbeaten 103 on the first day of the third Test against Sri Lanka at The Ovalguide England to 221/3 on a rain-shortened day. Pope, who was filling in for the injured Ben Stokes, had been under scrutiny after a period of poor form but silenced his critics with a confident knock on his home ground.
Pope's century was his seventh in Test cricket. Playing on a pitch that offered some support to the bowlers, the 26-year-old right-hander overcame a nervy start to shore up England's innings. His performance at the Oval was particularly notable, as he posted an impressive average of 80 on the pitch.
Speaking to Sky Sports Cricket, former England pacer Stuart Broad stressed that the familiar conditions had helped Pope regain his form.
“I think when you're struggling a little bit with form or rhythm, it's the perfect remedy to come back home where he bats so well. If he could have picked any place to bat in those conditions, it would have been the Oval,” Broad said. He praised Pope's adaptability during the innings, noting that the batsman seemed frantic at first but soon found his rhythm. “He's a class player. Once he's in, he'll always punish you.”
Former England captain Nasser Hussain also praised Pope's innings and praised him for coming through when both he and the team were under pressure.
“He started the summer well but then slowed down a bit. I liked how he worked on his game. He pushed forward, got himself into better defensive positions and still remained aggressive,” said Hussain.
Hussain added: “He loves this surface, which helps when you're not at your best. It was a special moment for him.”
Pope's century steadied England after opener Ben Duckett missed his own hundred and reached 86. Although the cloudy weather conditions in Sri Lanka benefited the bowlers, Pope's determined batting ensured England ended the day in a solid position.
This century not only took England into control of the game, but also eased doubts about Pope's leadership and ability to perform under pressure.