OLLIE DEFIES BUM RUSH

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

- BY MIKE WALTERS

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.

And if the troop of clergy among the Western Terrace's fancy dress legions raised their cassocks in tribute, nobody would have blamed them.

Replying to India's distant 471 all out, Pope's sparkling unbeaten 100 carried England to 209-3 in reply at the close.

That leaves them still 262 in arrears going into the third day, but with a big chance of converting all 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 scoring back-to-back tons, following his 171 against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, Pope is as safe as the Vatican crockery itself now.

True, his modest 24.60 average in 13 previous Tests against India was inflated by a monster 196 in Hyderabad 17 months ago. And he was dropped on 60 here by Yashasvi Jaiswal.