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It was barely surprising that Ollie Pope was back in the England changing room after just 22 minutes had passed between his stepping out to bat and bad light prematurely ending the second day in Rawalpindi. Pope, who has turned into an all-or-nothing player, will only have 55 runs from his tour of Pakistan when he returns home the following week.
Pope, who has had strong support from England’s management for the past two and a half years, has been chastened by this trip because he is not producing the returns that such investment requires. He’s managed 29, 22, 3 since falling second-ball to a spectacular catch at midwicket in the first Test, where his teammates amassed 823 runs between them. He has also looked out of his bearings on turning tracks.
Pope’s frenetic 196 in January, one of England’s greatest innings, helped the team pull off an unlikely comeback victory over India in Hyderabad, but it’s starting to seem like an anomaly. Since then, he has averaged 26.21 in 23 Test innings, averaging more ducks (3) than hundreds (2); in Asia, he has batted 13 times, averaging 13.30, but has not reached 40.
After this most recent dismissal, he looked back at the pitch and, as the sun sank below the Sohail Tanvir Enclosure, he slipped by Noman Ali. On a dry field that Pakistan has publicly modified to fit their spinners, what else could Pope have hoped for? The ball did turn and bounce to take the shoulder of his bat.
Following three consecutive dismissals to Sajid Khan, the vivacious offspinner who has transformed the tone of this series, this was Pope’s first dismissal to Noman. Pope was caught lbw on the sweep in the first innings here after being hit on the inside-edge by a ball that spun sharply in Multan and then chipped back to the bowler via the inside-edge as he attempted to drive through mid-off.
With series against Australia (away) and India (home) coming up next year, England will understandably be hesitant to make a change unless they are certain that the alternative is superior. It has taken them a long time to establish a top seven. Pope’s issue is that the path to fundamental transformation has never been as clear as it is now.
Pope is not likely to be dropped when England announces their team for the New Zealand tour at the conclusion of this Test. Jordan Cox will play at least one game on that tour, and maybe all three, due to Jamie Smith’s upcoming paternity leave; if he is successful at bat and Pope is unsuccessful, a decision will need to be made.
Before the first Test in Multan, Pope received his 50th cap from Zak Crawley, who praised his ability to “really seize the moment” and called him “one of the best players in the world.” The statement, “Pope has played some exceptional innings, but the world’s best contribute in between those big scores,” didn’t feel like a sincere view.
In any event, Root typically enters the game shortly after the first wicket due to Pope’s frequent mistakes at No. 3. Either Pope could be granted a reprieve in a more suited No. 5 position or Cox could be eased in if Root and Harry Brook each moved up one spot. England should at least think about upgrading Root.
England will only lose their second series under McCullum and Stokes unless they can pull off an unlikely comeback in Rawalpindi. Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes, and Ollie Robinson have not been seen since the first, which took place in India, brought about a brutal and abrupt transformation. If he makes it to New Zealand as anticipated, Pope can consider himself fortunate.