POPE ANSWERS STOKES' PRAYERS

Ton-up Ollie repays Ben faith as England battle back with ball and bat

- By Mike Walters

AFTER the cardinal sin of putting India in, England were absolved by the Pope.

On a steamy midsummer's day in the tropic of Yorkshire, Ollie Pope's ninth Test century led the fightback in the first Test at Headingley.

Replying to India's distant 471 all out, Pope's sparkling unbeaten 100 carried England to 209-3 in reply, still 262 in arrears but with a chance of converting their first-day chasing in the field into a meaningful contest.

Last month, Pope's place at No.3 was perceived to be under threat. Pull the other one after back-to-back hundreds, following his 171 against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, Pope is as safe as the Vatican crockery itself now.

When England's reply finally began, after a 40-minute delay for light rain, Jasprit Bumrah snared opener Zak Crawley in the first over with a beauty.

It was the 45th time in 99 Test innings that Crawley has failed to make it past the first 10 overs, but Bumrah is a tricky customer.

His fast arm and angle of delivery are difficult to pick and Ben Duckett - dropped on 15 by Ravindra Jadeja - looked to have weathered them until he dragged on for 62 after clubbing nine boundaries.

Left-hander Duckett said: “We couldn't have done much more with the ball today.

“They could have got 600 plus, so we are pleased to bowl them out for under 500.

“We are in a good spot and if we win the first session tomorrow we are really in this game.”

Duckett's 19th score of 50-plus in 34 Tests steadied the ship and he admitted: “Going out there against the best bowler in the world, it wasn't easy at times.

“He is world class. It is hard as an opener as he bowls so many different balls. I tried to play as late as I could but it is tricky.”

Pope's was an innings of immense substance, devalued only when Joe Root - of all people - fell to a poor shot the very next ball after he reached three figures off 125 deliveries with 13 boundaries.