Ollie Pope Breaks 147-Year Record, Surpassing Bradman & Tendulkar

Photo : AP

It was a memorable Friday for Ollie Pope at The Oval. After struggling with a mere 30 runs in his last four innings since taking over as England captain from the injured Ben Stokes, Pope made a remarkable comeback. On the opening day of the third Test against Sri Lanka, he scored his first century as England captain, finishing the day unbeaten on 103 off just 103 balls. England closed at 221-3 when bad light ended play.

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Pope’s century was his seventh in Test cricket, and notably, he achieved this milestone against seven different opponents—a unique feat in the 147-year history of the game. This record highlights his adaptability and skill, as no other player has accomplished this before.

Sri Lanka, trailing 2-0 in the series, failed to capitalize on the favorable conditions offered by an overcast sky and a green pitch. After winning the toss, captain Dhananjaya de Silva could not prevent England’s progress. England should have had another century-maker, but opener Ben Duckett fell short after scoring 86, continuing his pattern of giving away his wicket before reaching three figures.

Duckett praised Pope for his resilience in the face of criticism, particularly from former England captain Michael Vaughan, who had questioned Pope’s ability to balance captaincy and batting at No. 3. Duckett noted Pope’s ability to block out the noise and deliver an exceptional innings.

A rare highlight for Sri Lanka came with the dismissal of Joe Root, who was out for 13 just before tea. Root had recently set a new England record with his 34th Test century in the previous match at Lord's.

England, fresh from a 3-0 sweep over the West Indies earlier in the season, are aiming for their first clean sweep of a home Test series since 2004, when Vaughan’s team won seven consecutive matches.

Duckett started strong with a brisk fifty off 48 balls, featuring seven fours, but his innings was cut short when he was dismissed for 86. His dismissal came after he attempted an ambitious scoop shot off Milan Rathnayake and was caught by wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal.

Dan Lawrence, filling in as opener due to Zak Crawley’s injury, had a difficult time. He was out for just five, top-edging a short ball from Lahiru Kumara to gully. Despite this, Pope quickly established his rhythm, scoring a six and a four off Kumara early in his innings.

As the day progressed, Pope capitalized on the opportunity, reaching his century with a stylish square drive for his 13th four, having faced 102 balls. His innings included two sixes and demonstrated his technique and poise. 

The day’s play was disrupted by bad light and rain, but Pope’s performance was a bright spot in England’s innings. As he marked his 49th Test match, Pope’s achievement of scoring his first seven centuries against different teams stands out as a significant milestone in cricket history.

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