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England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope returned to form after only managing 30 runs across four innings in the two Tests against Sri Lanka. The skipper of the side in the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka, bounced back in style with a splendid century at The Oval. The England batter scored a sensational 154 off 156 balls to help the side put 325 runs on the board in the first innings after being invited to bat.
With his superb knock, the England captain became the only batter in the history to score seven different centuries against seven different oppositions. He achieved this feat while playing in his only 49th Test. Moreover, Pope’s inning of 103* on Day 1 also marked his first Test century as captain of England, whereas it was his 12th First-class hundred.
List of Ollie Pope’s seven centuries against seven opponents
- Pope’s journey in this unique feat began in January 2020 against South Africa. The England batter scored an unbeaten 135 while batting at number six. While it was his maiden Test ton, it was also his only century made outside the No. 3 position.
- The Surrey cricketer had to wait for two long years for his next century, which came against New Zealand in Nottingham in January 2022. The Three Lions batter scored 145 and it was also his first hundred while batting at No. 3.
- Pope scored his third century in December 2022. He went up to score 108 off 104 deliveries against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
- With a majestic 205 off 208 deliveries, Pope scored his fourth century in June 2023. This came at the Lord’s in London against Ireland. Moreover, it was also Ollie Pope’s maiden double hundred in Test cricket.
- A few months later, Pope scored a 196-run knock against India in Hyderabad in January 2024 to reach his fifth Test ton.
- The 26-year-old scored his sixth Test century in July 2024 against West Indies. He scored 121 in Nottingham.
- Finally, his seventh came just a few months after on Friday, September 7 when he reached his unbeaten 103 against Sri Lanka on Day 1 of the third Test at The Oval. With this he became the only batter in the history to score all seven centuries against different oppositions.
Watch the moment when Ollie Pope reached his seventh Test ton:
Furthermore, it is to be seen that Australia, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are the only test playing nations against whom Ollie Pope hasn’t scored a century yet. Meanwhile, apart from Australia, he hasn’t played the other three countries in a Test match.
