Ollie Pope scored a timely century on the second day of England's Ashes warm-up game to secure his position in the Ashes No.3 race.
Pope's hundred came as part of a quartet of centuries in the senior England team's innings today (November 14), with both openers also passing 50. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley put on 182 for the opening partnership, although they both fell within sight of hundreds – Duckett out first for 92 off 97 balls and Crawley trapped lbw by Matt Fisher for 82 off 101.
However, after a typically combative start England lost four wickets in the space of 16 runs after lunch. After Crawley and Duckett were both dismissed, Joe Root mistimed a pull shot off Matthew Potts and was caught at midwicket for 1 off 12 balls. As a start to his bid to correct his century-less record in Australia, that dismissal will do little to quieten the persistent jabs which have been levied at him during the series build-up. Harry Brook, who was also out for single-digits, also did nothing to quieten his own critics. The newly minted vice-captain charged down the pitch to Warwickshire seamer Nathan Gilchrist and chopped on to his stumps.
Despite that middle-order collapse, Pope's century brought the innings back along with his partnership with Ben Stokes, which was worth 137 by the time Pope was out. Stokes made 77 off 109 balls before he was dismissed by Will Jacks. The senior side were eventually bowled out for 426 in response to the 375 made by the Lions XI yesterday. One further day of play remains in England's only pre-first Test warm-up game.
Analysis: Pope century shuts door on No.3 debate
Pope's position at No.3 has been under more scrutiny than it ever has in the build-up to this Ashes series. Jacob Bethell's constant presence in the background of the Test summer and maiden international century at its back end ramped up the pressure, and Pope's vice-captaincy demotion ahead of the Ashes paved the way for him to step out if England wanted to back Bethell.
Nevertheless, Pope was named at three in the side likely to be the blueprint for England's XI in the opening Test next week, in a clear sign that he is still their preferred option. Bethell batted at three in the Lions side yesterday, but made two off 17 and was caught on the leg side off a delivery from Stokes. That latest failure adds to a disappointing white-ball tour of New Zealand, in which he scored 70 runs across five innings with a top score of 24.
With Pope so far the only centurion from the warm-up, there now seems very little that could destabilise his position for the first Test – now only a week away. Bethell will likely have one more innings tomorrow, with something extraordinary likely to affect his place on the bench for the series opener.
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