‘I've changed my technique slightly for this series’ - Ollie Pope reflects on altered batting style post Hyderabad masterclass
"I've worked hard on my game and tried to tailor my technique for these conditions,” Pope said.
England batter Ollie Pope was a standout star for his side against India in the first Test of the ongoing series. Scoring a sensational 196 runs in the second innings, Pope inspired England’s comeback in the game, overcoming a huge deficit to end up winning the game by 28 runs.
Speaking of his brilliant knock, Pope came forward to talk of the various changes that he has made in his technique over time and how he has made specific changes to take on India, especially in such conditions.
Pope's performance helped England win the game in sensational fashion, and after recording such a historic win in Hyderabad, the Ben Stokes-led side will be keen on performing similarly in the upcoming games of the series as they try to topple the hosts.
"I've tinkered throughout my career so far, I've changed my technique slightly for this series specifically. I had shoulder surgery, so I've had a long time to prepare for this series and make some adjustments to what I produced the last time we were here three years ago. I've worked hard on my game and tried to tailor my technique for these conditions,” Pope was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
It was about covering my inside edge: Pope
Furthermore, the star batter also highlighted the importance of knowing his opponent and how he looked to cover his inside edge regularly, as playing defensive on a regular basis guaranteed the hosts a wicket in the conditions.
"It was about covering my inside edge and trying to put some pressure back on the bowlers as well with the sweeps and reverse sweeps... The guys we are facing are very skilled bowlers. You can pretty much know where each ball is going to land and if you try to defend each ball there's probably more chance to get out than if you play a cross-batted shot,” Pope said.
"I don't think I nailed my first 20-odd runs, I was thinking 'why is it not hitting the middle of the bat'. But then out here it could be as safe as playing a defence, a sweep or reverse sweep," he added.
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