Top-order batsman Pope says 600 one-day runs within England’s reach

Ollie Pope believes England could score another 600 runs in one-day Test cricket under the right circumstances for Ben Stokes’ men.

Pope was one of three centuries for the hosts as England won the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge by 241 runs, with Harry Brook and Joe Root following in triple figures in a series success.

The win in Nottingham was also the first time England had passed 400 in both innings in the 147-year history of Test cricket.

Pope was one of four batsmen to score a hundred as England amassed 506-4 on the first day against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in December 2022, despite facing just 75 overs.

And the England vice-captain believes the team now have the ability to surpass that performance, but also the ability to adapt to more bowler-friendly conditions as they refine their aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach. “I think when Baz (England coach Brendon McCullum) and Stokesy took over we were a batting unit with, not a lack of experience but a lack of confidence at that time,” Pope said.

Back then it was about building trust, now it’s about, hopefully, becoming more and more ruthless.

“Sometimes we might score 280-300 in a day, but that’s okay and probably because we’re reading situations.”

The Surrey star, 26, added: “I saw at Trent Bridge when the lights went on and it started to swing more, it was time to manage the game a bit and that’s something we want to be better and better. to.

“But there could be a day when we go and get 500 or 600 at some point in the future as well. It’s a great thing to have.”

England, who previously beat the West Indies by an innings and 114 runs at Lord’s, have now won a Test series for the first time since 2022 as they lead 2-0 ahead of this week’s final at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Draws against New Zealand and Australia in 2023 and a 4-1 defeat in India this year checked England’s progress.

They have since undergone a significant squad overhaul, with England record opener James Anderson, 100-cap veteran Jonny Bairstow, wicketkeeper Ben Foakes and experienced spinner Jack Leach all making way for new talent.

The newcomers all made impressive starts, with fast bowler Gus Atkinson taking 12 wickets at Lord’s, off-spinner Shoaib Bashir grabbing a five-wicket haul at Trent Bridge and Jamie Smith shining as a wicketkeeper-batsman.

“I think there were some big calls and some tough ones for guys to make, but it feels right now that we have a balanced attack and a really good batting lineup as well,” Pope said.

“We want to give the boys confidence and that we are building the team around them, but at the same time in international cricket there will always be pressure for places. It’s shown in the last few weeks that the guys who have come in have done well and we can continue to build from here.”

Asalanka to lead Sri Lanka in T20 against India

Sri Lanka named all-rounder Charith Asalanka as Twenty20 captain on Tuesday ahead of a three-match series against world champions India starting this weekend.

The 27-year-old replaces Wanindu Hasaranga, who stepped down as skipper in the shortest format after Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup in the USA and India last month. West.

Sri Lanka and India will play three T20s in Pallekele from Saturday before meeting in three one-day internationals.

Kusal Mendis leads Sri Lanka’s ODI side while Dhananjaya de Silva is the Test captain. De Silva and veteran Angelo Mathews were not included in the 16-man T20 squad, but there was a place for Hasaranga.

India will also have a new captain in Suryakumar Yadav, who has taken charge of the T20 side following the retirement of Rohit Sharma following their triumphant World Cup campaign.

T20I Squad:

Charith Asalanka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Fernando Thusha Chara, Dushman Thusha Chara, Nuwanman Thusha Chara.