India vs England: Ollie Pope-led visitors make history with partnership record

India need 231 runs to win the Hyderabad Test against England are expected to complete the job even if they face some difficulties. Regardless of who wins the match, England’s batting in their second innings should not be ignored as Ollie Pope led the visitor’s revival with a classy 196.

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Very rarely has visiting batters countered Indian spinners so valiantly on Indian pitches and Pope’s innings was a masterclass in doing so. The batter missed out on a double ton by just four runs after Jasprit Bumrah cleaned him up. A double century would have put Pope in the esteemed group of English batters to score a double ton in India. So far only Joe Root, Mike Gatting, and Graeme Fowler have done so.

In any case, Pope with his knock of 196 overtook Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar who has scored 188* against India in second innings at Kolkata in 1999. Andy Flower (232*), Brendon McCullum (225) and Garfield Sobers (198) are the only batters to more than Pope in the 2nd innings as a visiting batter against India in India.

Another secret behind England’s total of 420 in the second innings was the partnerships that Pope forged for the sixth, seventh and eight wickets. With ben Foakes, Pope put up 112 for the sixth wickets, then 64 with Rehan Ahmed followed by 80 runs with Tom Hartley.

This is the first instance of a team scoring 50 or more for each of sixth, seventh and eight wicket partnerships against India in India. This is also third such instance overall.