NEW DELHI: Ollie Pope, the architect of England‘s thrilling 28-run victory over India in the first Test in Hyderabad with his sensational 196, revealed on Sunday that he diligently honed his sweeps and reverse sweeps in extensive practice before arriving in India.
The English team had a preparatory stint in Abu Dhabi, where they trained intensively behind closed doors to familiarise themselves with the challenges posed by sub-continental conditions.
Pope’s meticulous preparation and focus on specific shots played a pivotal role in his outstanding innings, contributing significantly to England’s success in a closely contested match against the host team.
The behind-the-scenes training in Abu Dhabi showcased England’s commitment to adaptability and readiness, ultimately influencing their performance on the Indian subcontinent.
“They’re very skilled bowlers. If you try and defend each ball, there’s probably more of a chance to get out, rather than play with cross-bat shots. We’ve practiced those shots enough before coming here. I think you have to just commit to it.
“It could be as safe as defence, playing a reverse sweep or a sweep. Then it is also going to lead to more half-volleys too from the bowlers,” Pope, who was adjudged player of the match, said during his post-match press meet.
The Essex cricketer said their base camp at Abu Dhabi created a lot of confidence among the group.
“We put in all that work in Abu Dhabi. I think that’s probably allowed us to come back from that big deficit. That’s exactly what we want to do as a team. We’ll keep doing it hopefully in the future,” he added.

Pope made a noteworthy comeback after recovering from a debilitating shoulder injury sustained during last year’s Ashes against Australia. The 26-year-old batsman admitted that the prospect of returning to top-level cricket weighed on his mind leading up to the opening Test.
“That’s probably my biggest concern from a batting point of view. It was about getting back up to speed with playing cricket again, and getting my mind through those processes that you do go through as a batter.
“I’ve generally been somebody who needs a couple of knocks to start feeling my best. But I think credit goes to Baz (McCullum) and Stokesy for the way we’ve gone about this whole week,” he said.
Pope said he has been working on his batting during his time away from top-flight cricket.
“I’ve worked hard on my game while I’ve been injured. Fortunately, I’ve been batting for two or three months now. So, I feel really good.
“But for me, it was just about getting my head around putting a big innings together. Like I said, in a winning cause, it means a hell of a lot more,” said Pope.
Pope also took on the role of England’s vice-captain for the tour. He revealed that this responsibility allowed him to shift his focus away from the intricate technical aspects of batting, which often occupy a significant portion of a player’s mental space.
“Yeah, I think so. It’s good to immerse yourself in whatever you’re doing, rather than standing in the field and thinking about my forward defence, which I probably did maybe three or four years ago.
“Here I was actually thinking about plans, and there’s no need to be thinking too much about the body. You can do all that stuff before and just thought I’ll be going to a Test match pretty relaxed,” he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)