15 h. ago ‘Fingers crossed’ Ben Stokes can ‘do something magic’ despite scare – Ollie Pope

Stokes pulled up with what appeared to be a groin problem late on day one of the third Rothesay Test.

Politics

15 h. ago Pope will make sure injured Stokes ‘doesn’t push himself to a ridiculous place’

Captain picked up groin injury in stand with Joe RootEngland ‘want to kick on to a score towards 500’Ollie Pope said it was his role as vice-captain to ensure Ben Stokes “doesn’t push himself to a ridiculous place” as the captain battles a groin injury that forced him to seek treatment towards the end of the first day of the third Test against India.After receiving attention from the physio with just under an hour to play, the captain’s movement was noticeably impaired for the remainder of the final session, but he played on as England reached stumps on 251 for four. There are no plans to send him for scans, the hope being that he will recover overnight and, alongside Joe Root – who is unbeaten on 99 – “really kick on and make it a score north of 400, towards 500”. Continue reading...

Events

16 h. ago Joe Root unbeaten on 99 as England dig in on opening day of third Test

England knuckled down to 251 for four.

Politics

19 h. ago Joe Root and Ollie Pope steady England after openers fall in same over

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were dismissed in the space of four balls.

Politics

4 d. ago India close on victory as Ben Stokes falls on brink of lunch

Akash Deep led the way as the tourists reduced England to 153 for six in notional pursuit of 608 at Edgbaston.

Politics

2 w. ago ‘It was unbelievably skilled’: Pope hails Brook after swashbuckling innings

Yorkshireman hits 99 with first Test on knife edge‘He was pretty gutted to get out,’ says England No 3Ollie Pope hailed the ability that the “unbelievably skilled” Harry Brook possesses “to flip a game” after the Yorkshireman’s quickfire 99 helped England to sprint to a total only six runs short of India’s first-innings 471 on day three at Headingley. With India reaching stumps on 90 for two the outcome of the first Test remains beautifully uncertain.“Everyone knows what a fantastic player Harry is, and I think being able to put really skilled bowlers under that much pressure shows exactly the skills he has got,” Pope said. “But it is not just slugging, it is very well thought out. The ability to kind of flip a game – we were saying: ‘Oof, if he bats for another hour here we could be in an amazing position.’ That just shows the kind of skill he’s got, and power. It was unbelievably skilled.” Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Ollie Pope doubts Harry Brook has regrets after missing out on hometown hundred

Brook was on the cusp of a ninth century in just his 26th Test but with the crowd on red-alert, he pulled Prasidh Krishna to Shardul Thakur.

Events

2 w. ago Harry Brook builds on Ollie Pope century as England chip away at India lead

Pope was an early casualty in the morning session, falling for 106 in the third over.

Politics

2 w. ago Ben Duckett thrilled as Ollie Pope silences questions about his England place

Pope hit a magnificent hundred.

Politics

2 w. ago England fight back against India as Ollie Pope repays faith with sparkling century

Jasprit Bumrah claims late wicket of Joe Root as hosts close day two of First Test at Headingley on 209-3, trailing by 262

Economics

2 w. ago Ollie Pope century silences critics as England fight back against India

Pope’s unbeaten century led England to 209 for three at stumps in reply to India’s 471.

Culture

2 w. ago Pope resists Bumrah to lift England after bowlers claw control away from India

First Test, day two: India 471 v England 209-3Pope unbeaten on 100 but Root falls late to BumrahA day on from that much-debated decision to bowl first by Ben Stokes and the clouds had started to lift for England. The hosts were still some way from flipping the advantage they had handed India but by stumps, after an earlier fightback with the ball, Ollie Pope’s unbeaten 100 had established something akin to a foothold in the contest.Pope came into this Test with questions being asked about his spot at No 3; questions that centred around a poor record against India and Australia and not quelled by that 171 against Zimbabwe. Jacob Bethell, flavour of the month in New Zealand late last year, was breathing down his neck, even if potential, rather than back catalogue, was the driver. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Yashasvi Jaiswal hits hundred as India pile on runs against England

The opener put on an unbroken 123 with captain Shubman Gill, who was 58 not out at tea.

Events

3 w. ago England: Ollie Pope never in danger of being dropped, insists Ben Stokes

Jacob Bethell has forced the issue of Ollie Pope’s inclusion with some strong recent performances

Politics

3 w. ago It would be remarkable to drop Ollie Pope after 171 – Ben Stokes

Pope will line up for England against India despite pressure on his number three place from Jacob Bethell.

Politics

3 w. ago England are right to stick with a settled top six – Bethell should follow the Lara model | Mark Ramprakash

Ollie Pope retains his No 3 spot for the first Test and India wouldn’t mind having a bit more of that kind of continuityThere always seems to be one man under pressure in England’s batting lineup and consensus over the winter seemed to be that Jacob Bethell’s emergence had put Ollie Pope’s place at risk. Pope has clung on to his place for the start of the India series and my view is that Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum should be very careful before they mess with what is probably the most settled top six of any Test side in the world at the moment.There was speculation about both Pope and Zak Crawley before they scored centuries in last month’s game against Zimbabwe, but that performance should have secured their spots for this series at least. Bethell is a huge talent and some really top cricketers have spoken very highly about his performances and potential – clearly his time will come. He was impressive in New Zealand over the winter and since then we’ve seen exhilarating glimpse...

Politics

3 w. ago England vs India: Ollie Pope retains place over Jacob Bethell for first Test against India

Jacob Bethell must wait for his chance as Ollie Pope keeps his place at number three

Politics

3 w. ago Ollie Pope gets nod as Jacob Bethell left out of England side for first Test against India

Pope edges out Bethell for the No 3 spot as Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse return to the seam attack

Politics

3 w. ago Sir Alastair Cook explains why England should pick Ollie Pope over Jacob Bethell against India

The debate over England number three position rumbles on for both the India series and the Ashes in December

Society