England batter Ben Duckett has lavished high praise on teammate Ollie Pope, calling his century against India at Headingley one of the finest innings he has ever witnessed in a Test match setting. Pope’s knock of 106 not only revived England’s innings after a shaky start but also won admiration from teammates, fans, and pundits alike — none more vocally than Duckett, who admitted the innings left him with goosebumps.
Speaking after the end of Day 3, Duckett didn’t hold back his admiration for Pope’s effort, calling it “an exhibition of class, composure, and courage.” England had been under considerable pressure after India piled on 471 runs in the first innings. With early wickets falling, it was Pope who stood tall amidst the chaos, playing a counter-attacking yet calculated knock to bring his team back into the contest.
“His century gave me goosebumps,” Duckett said in a post-day interview. “The way he handled pressure, especially after we lost two quick wickets early on, was nothing short of brilliant. To play with such calmness against a top-quality Indian attack takes something special, and Ollie did that today.”
Duckett went on to say that Pope’s innings had inspired the dressing room and that it showcased the kind of resilience and class that makes him one of England’s most valuable Test players. Pope’s century was studded with elegant drives, crisp pulls, and subtle nudges that frustrated the Indian bowlers and kept the scoreboard ticking.
While Pope’s form has seen ups and downs in recent years, his knock at Headingley was a reminder of his immense talent and mental strength. Coming in at a time when India were dictating terms, Pope not only absorbed the pressure but also wrestled it back in England’s favour for a significant stretch of the day. His 106 came off 151 balls and included 14 boundaries, underlining his command over the Indian attack.
Duckett, who has shared the dressing room with Pope across formats, highlighted his teammate’s work ethic and technical adaptability. “People don’t always see the amount of work that goes in behind the scenes. Ollie’s always grinding, always looking to improve. Today, it all paid off in the most amazing way. It was a masterclass.”
Unfortunately for England, the innings ended when Prasidh Krishna found Pope’s outside edge with a cleverly pitched delivery just outside off stump. Rishabh Pant completed the dismissal behind the stumps, and Pope walked off to a standing ovation from the Headingley crowd. Despite the setback, Pope’s knock had already done enough to keep England’s hopes alive.
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