Not too long ago, Ollie Pope’s most memorable moment against Jasprit Bumrah was a chaotic one—flat stumps and a scramble for survival.
Fast forward to day two of the third Test at Headingley, and it’s a completely different story.
Pope stood tall against India’s fearsome pacer, flipping the script with an unbeaten century that steadied England’s ship in a high-stakes battle.
Pope Silences Doubts with Grit and Timing
Coming in early after Zak Crawley’s first-over dismissal, Pope faced the challenge head-on—literally—with Bumrah’s pace and swing testing him from ball one.
But instead of folding, Pope dug deep.
He brought up his fifty off 64 balls, one edge narrowly flying through the vacant third slip, and kept going until he reached his ninth Test hundred just before stumps.
For a player averaging under 25 against India, this innings felt like redemption.
His place at No. 3 had been questioned, with young talent Jacob Bethell waiting in the wings.
But Pope made sure his bat did the talking, justifying Ben Stokes’ decision to back his vice-captain.
As Stokes had said earlier, leaving him out would’ve been “ridiculous”—and Pope proved why.
A Slice of Luck and a Lot of Grit
Sure, he had one stroke of fortune—dropped on 60 by Yashasvi Jaiswal at third slip—but by then, Pope had already endured a fierce examination by the new ball under gloomy skies.
The atmosphere at Headingley had cooled from the heat of the opening day, but England’s energy certainly hadn’t.
Earlier, India looked in control. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant resumed their overnight dominance, pushing the score past 400.
But once their 209-run stand was broken, England pounced.
India collapsed, losing their last seven wickets for just 41 runs, allowing England to head into their innings with fresh optimism.
India’s Batting Carnival Ends in Chaos
Pant was at his flashy best—pulling off outrageous shots, flipping deliveries over his head, even celebrating his hundred with a theatrical somersault.
It was pure entertainment. Gill, too, looked every bit the new Indian Test captain as he passed his previous career-best score.
But India’s momentum shifted sharply when Gill picked out deep square leg and Pant was trapped LBW by Josh Tongue.
Stokes, sharp as ever, tempted both Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur into rash strokes, while Tongue and the gloomy conditions combined to dismantle India’s tail.
England’s Bowlers Find Their Rhythm After a Tough Start
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for England’s bowlers, though.
Chris Woakes struggled in his comeback from an ankle injury, going wicketless and expensive.
At 36, questions around his future—especially for the upcoming Ashes—will only grow louder if this form continues.
Still, the introduction of Shoaib Bashir and some smart captaincy from Stokes turned the tide.
Even though Jamie Smith missed a stumping chance, the damage was minimal, with Pant adding just 10 more runs.
Pope Anchors the Comeback With Support from Duckett
Once India’s innings folded at 471, England had their work cut out.
Ben Duckett joined Pope in a 122-run second-wicket stand, contributing a vital 62 before falling to Bumrah.
Joe Root’s late dismissal did sting, but Pope held firm.
As the day closed, Pope stood unbeaten on 100 with England at 209 for three.
Harry Brook, who got a last-minute reprieve after Bumrah overstepped, will be at the crease with him when play resumes.
It’s a golden chance for England to flip the narrative again.
What Comes Next for Day Three?
All eyes will now be on Pope and Brook to carry the momentum forward.
England’s track record under the Bazball regime has proven they’re more than capable of chasing down huge totals—after all, they’ve pulled off wins even after conceding over 550.
If Pope can weather another Bumrah spell and the rest of the middle order steps up, Headingley might witness yet another one of those thrilling English comebacks.