Cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar noticed that England’s Ollie Pope changed his strategy in the second inning of the ongoing Test series opener versus India in Hyderabad.
Manjrekar stated Pope struggled with Indian spinners due to excessive focus on the front-foot game. He said Pope believed he could replicate his strategy in the second inning, and indeed, he succeeded because he aimed for run-scoring shots.
Manjrekar then suggested that Shubman Gill from Team India might also need to follow Pope’s changed strategy because he leans heavily on the front-foot play, just like Pope.
He shared these views on ESPNcricinfo, He said:
“There was one very important difference in the way he (Pope) played in the first as opposed to the second. He still trusted his front foot game, but if you look at the first few balls that he faced, he got onto the front foot, but it was a very purposeful reaction and effort where he was looking for ones and twos; he was looking to score. That’s something Shubman Gill could incorporate into his batting because he also likes to get onto the front foot.”
Sanjay Manjrekar
Ollie Pope was removed for a single run in the first innings of the Hyderabad Test. However, he turned things around in the second essay, scoring his sixth Test century. At stumps on Day 3, the 26-year-old remained undefeated on 148.
Sanjay Manjrekar lauds Ollie Pope’s brilliant century in Hyderabad Test
Ollie Pope first Test century impressed Sanjay Manjrekar greatly. He feels it’s among the top performances by an international player in India recently.
This young star’s superb work on a difficult pitch earned him commendation from the former player who is now a commentator:
“I’ve seen Kevin Pietersen, as an English batter, get a fantastic hundred at the Wankhede Stadium. I’ve seen Steve Smith get a hundred for Australia in Pune. I think Ollie Pope has played one of the finest innings that we have seen in recent times from a foreign batter on a pitch like this. One of the finest hundreds that you’d see.”
Sanjay Manjrekar
England took a significant 126-run lead at stumps on Day 3 and has a chance to set a difficult goal for the Men in Blue.