‘We could have won three Tests’: Ollie Pope on ‘frustrating’ series loss against India

England vice-captain Ollie Pope has summed up team’s 1-4 series loss in India as “frustrating” and said they could have won at least three out of the five Test matches.

After losing the opening Test in Hyderabad by 28 runs, the Rohit Sharma-led India won the remaining four to win the series.

“Frustrating, from the team’s point of view and personal point of view.,” Pope told the Sky Sports.

“I think from the team’s point of view and personal point of view. We put ourselves in lot of good position, probably in three of the five Test matches. We were in the position after Day 2, where we had every chance of winning those games.

“Two of the games, we didn’t played anywhere near our best but the other three I feel like we could have won each if them. That’s probably the more frustrating part about the whole tour in general.”

On his own performance

Ollie Pope scored 296 runs in the series. He was the third highest run-scorer in the England team. Surprisingly out of those he scored 196 in one single knock in Hyderabad in the first Test.

England vice-captain Ollie Pope in action. (Reuters)

After playing one hell of a knock, which India coach Rahul Dravid said he had never seen before, in challenging conditions against a high-calibre bowling attack, the Ben Stokes deputy form evaporated in a thin air.

“From a personal point of view, again frustrating. Obviously started with that hundred in Hyderabad and then just couldn’t quite ….

“I think the main challenge is in India is that they challenge you in all differet ways. The got Bumrah with the reverse swing, they got the skills of their spinners, mystery spinner. They have Ashwin and Jadeja.

“I think I sort of prepared really well for that first wicket we played on, which probably was the biggest turner. Then we played on pitches that were slightly different and I didn’t adapt my game quickly enough.

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“I never ever felt out of nick but I just could not put together one or two more big scores, which is probably the most frustrating part.”

What to look forward

The 26-year-old admitted that the biggest lesson he has learnt from the tour was to keep moving forward after every inning.

“The 196, I can use that as a template,” he said.

Hyderabad: England’s Ollie Pope plays a shot on the third day of the first cricket test match between India and England, at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, in Hyderabad, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

“After that knock, I thought I am going to score 600 runs in this series. I think that is probably the most frustrating part. It shows I can do against those kinds of spinners on tough conditions. I can take a lot confidence going forward.

“But at the same time, I need to keep working out on where I need to draw a line after every innings and keep moving forward.
Keep on reacting to the different pitches quickly as as I can.

“I also didn’t get as many starts as I wanted. I need to keep working on my tempo at the start of the innings rather than just try to feel like I am in straightaway,” he said.