Pope admits 'it's nice to get one off my back' with double-century

Ollie Pope admits ‘it’s nice to get one off my back’ after ending Lord’s curse with fastest EVER Test double-century in England as Ben Duckett insists he is playing ‘with more freedom’ ahead of Ashes showdown

  • Ollie Pope had just one score of more than 28 in his previous seven Lord’s Tests 
  • His partnership of 252 with Ben Duckett reflected both players’ growth in stature
  • NASSER HUSSAIN: Ben Duckett and Pope profit against a poor Ireland attack 

Ollie Pope celebrated the fastest Test double-century in England and insisted: ‘Test runs are very special, no matter who you’re playing.’

Pope reached the landmark from just 207 balls as England racked up 524 for four against Ireland at Lord’s – a venue where seven previous Test innings had brought him only one score above 28.

‘It was very special,’ he said. ‘It’s not somewhere I’ve done that well before, so it’s nice to get that one off my back, especially leading into a big summer. 

‘There’s no denying that the Aussie attack is stronger than the Irish attack, but scoring Test runs is a habit.’

Pope admitted he didn’t train ‘smart enough’ ahead of the last Ashes in Australia in 2021-22, when he averaged just 11. 

Ollie Pope had only gone past 28 once before at Lord’s in his previous seven Test appearances

Ben Duckett’s 182 came in his first ever home Test having passed 50 in six of his past 11 innings

Australia’s pace attack – featuring captain Pat Cummins (pictured) – is a different prospect to Ireland’s

But his partnership of 252 with Ben Duckett reflected both players’ growth in stature and confidence going into this summer’s clash with the Aussies.

Duckett, who made 182 in his first Test innings on home soil, said: ‘When you’re in you back garden as a kid, you dream of a moment like that. It’s been an incredible day.

‘For a few years, I didn’t believe I could play Test cricket. 

‘Thankfully Stokesy and Baz took over, and I play with even more freedom now than I did before.’

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