By Phil Walker
Prolific: Pope’s average at the Oval is the highest of any cricketer on any ground in the world since the turn of the century
PICTURES: Alamy
The shot that brought up Ollie Pope’s fifty sent the ball ambling across the damp outfield and creeping beneath the tired dive of the Sri Lankan fielder. The previous ball, a long hop, had sprung off Pope’s top edge for six. The ball before that, Ben Duckett had perished trying his fourth scoop in 15 balls. It was, on the surface, that kind of day.
The lights were on, as they had been since the start. But…
