Ollie Pope, England’s co-captain, stood up for their super active style of playing cricket – also named ‘Bazball’. This was before the third test vs India starting in Rajkot on the upcoming Thursday, date being February 15.
The tourists lost the second Test at Visakhapatnam by 106 runs, tying the five-match series at 1-1. Following the defeat, numerous former England cricketers were dissatisfied with how Ben Stokes and his team conducted their pursuit of 399.
However, speaking to reporters on the eve of the third Test, Ollie Pope insisted that the Bazball concept was more than merely batting recklessly.
“Everyone bats differently in this team. We’re not allowed to say Bazball, but the start that we’re making isn’t always about attacking. A lot of the time it’s about absorbing pressure when we need to absorb pressure.”
Ollie Pope
Pope was England’s hero in the first Test at Hyderabad, scoring an astounding 196 runs in the second innings to enable them secure a memorable victory against India. This is no doubt an ideal field for his batting skill, especially when Rajkot is acclaimed one of the best batting surfaces in India.
Ollie Pope on Ben Stokes’ 100th Test
Ollie Pope commended the England team’s lead, Ben Stokes, who is close to a milestone. He’ll soon play his 100th Test. Pope recalled Stokes’ stunning 155-run innings against Australia at Lord’s in the 2023 Ashes, which nearly helped England pull off a crazy chase.
Pope commented on Stokes’ ability to find inner strength in times where his team’s back is against the wall, saying:
“He has probably changed the game in a lot of respects, he has just got a way of bringing out the very best of him when the team needs it. Even in the Ashes at Lord’s (155 in the second innings) , which I remember thinking about ‘how does he obviously take it to a new level when all the pressure is on him.”
Ollie Pope
Pope further alleged that as captain, Stokes made it known that he wanted his deputy to bat at number three. Stokes’ leadership, along with tutoring from Brendon McCullum, has produced an environment in which Pope and others have thrived.