England batter Ollie Pope extended a world record run with his eighth Test century against Zimbabwe on Thursday (May 22).
The one-off Test between Zimbabwe and England kicked off at Trent Bridge on Thursday, with the visitors winning the toss and putting England in to bat.
One-off Test, England vs Zimbabwe
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Despite the overcast conditions early on, the nature of the wicket had more of a say in proceedings, as England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett got off to a brisk start against Zimbabwe's frontline bowlers, Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani. The pair put on 50 in 10.2 overs, and 100 in 20.2 overs as both players scored half-centuries.
Ollie Pope levels Jonathan Trott with seventh Test century from No.3
The opening stand was finally brought to an end for 231 in the 42nd over, when Duckett was caught for 140 off the bowling of Wessly Madhevere – bringing Pope to the crease. Pope and Crawley put on 137 in just under 25 overs, before Crawley went for 124, trapped lbw by Sikandar Raza.
Pope got to a half-century off 48 balls, carrying on the openers' tempo, before slowing just a touch following Crawley's dismissal. He got to the three-figure mark after tea, getting there off 109 deliveries. This was Pope's seventh three-figure score from No.3 – equalling Jonathan Trott's England record. Only Wally Hammond, Ken Barrington and David Gower have scored more.
It was also his eighth century in Test cricket overall, against an eighth different opposition – extending a world record he already held. Pope was the first player in Test history to score their first seven Test centuries against seven different teams, and is now the first to do so for their first eight centuries.
Overall, Pope is the 30th player to score Test centuries against at least eight different teams. Sixteen players have scored centuries against nine different teams, and Pope has a chance to join that club if he scores a century in the Ashes which start later this year.
Test centuries against most different teams, full list
| Player | Team | Centuries | No. of opposition teams |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 51 | 9 |
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 45 | 9 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 41 | 9 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 38 | 9 |
| Rahul Dravid | India | 36 | 9 |
| Brian Lara | West Indies | 34 | 9 |
| Younis Khan | Pakistan | 34 | 9 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 34 | 9 |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 33 | 9 |
| Steve Waugh | Australia | 32 | 9 |
| Matthew Hayden* | Australia | 30 | 9 |
| Gary Kirsten | South Africa | 21 | 9 |
| Adam Gilchrist | Australia | 17 | 9 |
| Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka | 16 | 9 |
| Angelo Mathews | Sri Lanka | 16 | 9 |
| Dinesh Chandimal | Sri Lanka | 16 | 9 |
| Alastair Cook | England | 33 | 8 |
| Shivnarine Chanderpaul | West Indies | 30 | 8 |
| Hashim Amla | South Africa | 28 | 8 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq | Pakistan | 25 | 8 |
| Mohammad Yousuf | Pakistan | 24 | 8 |
| Ian Bell | England | 22 | 8 |
| Ross Taylor | New Zealand | 19 | 8 |
| Michael Vaughan | England | 18 | 8 |
| Dimuth Karunaratne | Sri Lanka | 16 | 8 |
| Herschelle Gibbs | South Africa | 14 | 8 |
| Thilan Samaraweera | Sri Lanka | 14 | 8 |
| Kraigg Brathwaite | West Indies | 12 | 8 |
| Ashwell Prince | South Africa | 11 | 8 |
| Ollie Pope | England | 8 | 8 |
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