LONDON — England vice-captain Ollie Pope struck a timely and composed century, but fellow batsmen Joe Root and Harry Brook missed out on valuable time in the middle as England’s four-day Ashes warm-up match against the County Select XI petered out into a predictable draw at the County Ground.
On a placid final-day pitch offering little for the bowlers, Pope converted his overnight 68 into an unbeaten 106, retiring out to allow others a chance. His innings, spanning 173 balls and including 14 boundaries, was a masterclass in concentration and shot selection, providing a significant confidence boost ahead of the first Test at Edgbaston. "It was nice to get some time out in the middle," Pope said afterwards.
Pope Finds Form at the Perfect Time
After a modest return from a serious shoulder dislocation, Pope’s innings was exactly what the England camp would have hoped for. He looked assured at the crease, playing his trademark flick shots through the leg side with authority and driving elegantly when the bowlers over-pitched. More importantly, he spent nearly five hours at the crease across two days, acclimatising to the rhythms of a long-form innings. "It was important to get that rhythm back," he added.
His partnership with the aggressive Ben Duckett, who made a rapid 62, was particularly encouraging. The pair added 99 runs at a healthy clip, demonstrating the positive intent that has become the hallmark of the ‘Bazball’ era. Pope’s ability to rotate the strike and capitalise on loose deliveries ensured the scoreboard kept ticking over even when boundaries were not flowing freely.
Root and Brook Fall in Quick Succession
While Pope prospered, the dismissals of Joe Root and Harry Brook provided the only moments of genuine concern for the England management on an otherwise dominant day. Root, who looked in sublime touch during a first-innings 77, could only add nine to his overnight score before edging a good-length delivery from seamer James Wharton behind. It was a soft dismissal for a player of his calibre, cutting short a promising outing.
Just 17 balls later, the explosive Harry Brook followed, trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White for a 22-ball 13. Brook, one of the form players in world cricket over the past year, will be disappointed not to have spent more time in the middle ahead of his first Ashes series. His brief stay included two crisp boundaries but ended with a misjudgement against the turning ball.
The key takeaways from the top-order batting were:
- Ollie Pope: A confidence-building, unbeaten century.
- Ben Duckett: A fluent, aggressive half-century.
- Joe Root & Harry Brook: Missed opportunities for a big score.
Bowlers Get a Workout on Flat Track
With the bat dominating the ball, England’s bowlers also had a useful, if gruelling, workout. Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson, the likely new-ball pairing for the first Test, bowled tidy spells without much luck. The focus for them was on building rhythm and testing their fitness, with both coming through unscathed. Spinners Jack Leach and Will Jacks also sent down a significant number of overs, with Leach in particular bowling with good control.
The flat nature of the pitch meant wickets were hard to come by, but the bowlers stuck to their tasks. Robinson, generating decent pace and bounce, was the most threatening of the attack. "It's about getting overs in the legs and getting used to the feel of a red ball again," Robinson noted.
Stokes Manages His Knee
All eyes were on captain Ben Stokes, who did not bowl in the match as he continues to manage a longstanding left knee issue. He fielded and batted, scoring 21 in the first innings, and the England camp has repeatedly stated they are confident he will be able to fulfil his all-rounder role during the Ashes. His fitness with the ball remains the single biggest question mark hanging over England’s preparations.
Looking Ahead to the Edgbaston Showdown
Despite the minor setbacks for Root and Brook, England will head to Birmingham largely satisfied with their warm-up outing. The majority of the top order spent valuable time in the middle, and the bowlers emerged fit. The draw, while inevitable, served its purpose as a vital tuning-up exercise. The team now has a few days to fine-tune their plans before the highly-anticipated series begins on June 16th.
The Australian team, who opted for a closed-doors training camp instead of a formal warm-up match, will present a far sterner test. The battle between England’s aggressive batting lineup and Australia’s world-class pace attack, featuring Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, is set to be the defining contest of the summer. Pope’s century is a positive sign, but England know they will need all their key men, especially Root and Brook, firing from the first ball at Edgbaston.
As one team insider put it, "You'd always take a hundred for Pope. It's a shame Joe and Harry didn't cash in, but they've looked good in the nets and the feeling in the camp is very positive. We're ready." The stage is now set for a thrilling contest, with England’s batsmen hoping their warm-up form is a true indicator of what is to come.