KEEP FAITH WITH POPE

Baz backs stand-in keeper Ollie to succeed at No.3

- KEITH WEBSTER

FIVE months ago, England's Ollie Pope started a run at the crease that he will be itching to see the back of when the three-Test series in New Zealand begins tomorrow night.

That day, July 27, he made 10 against the West Indies at Edgbaston, having hit 57 at Lord's two weeks earlier and a ton and a half-ton at Trent Bridge a week after the Lord's victory.

But his dismissal in Birmingham-bowled by Shamar Joseph started the sort of series of low scores that batsmen often find tough to get out of.

After that 10, he scored six, six, one and 17 in two Tests against Sri Lanka before finally hitting form with 154 at the Oval.