Ollie Pope struck the first century of England’s Ashes tour, locking down his spot at number three ahead of next week’s opening Test.
Pope scored exactly 100 from 113 balls on day two of the internal warm-up match against Andrew Flintoff’s England Lions, sending him into the series with a much-needed shot in the arm.
He spent much of the summer fending off pressure from Jacob Bethell and looked to have lost his grip on the shirt when he lost the vice-captaincy to Harry Brook ahead of the trip Down Under.
But Bethell’s lean white-ball tour of New Zealand, and a cheap dismissal on day one here at Perth’s Lilac Hill, strengthened Pope’s hand as the incumbent.
Now, further buoyed by 16 fours and a six in a quality knock against the second string, Pope can set his sights on facing the Australians across the city at Optus Stadium on Friday.
“Ollie played brilliantly today, he looks in great touch,” said Zak Crawley, whose opening stand of 182 alongside Ben Duckett set England on the way to a fast-scoring total of 426.
“He’s in a really good place with his game and he looks very focused.”
Crawley put on 82 and Duckett raced away to 92 as the top order shaped up well but there was double disappointment for Joe Root and Harry Brook.
The top two batters in the ICC’s world rankings both missed out, Root caught for a single after mishitting a pull off Durham’s Matthew Potts and Brook bowled for two after charging down the track at Warwickshire’s Nathan Gilchrist.
Both men are vital to England’s prospects in the series but saw their hopes of banking some valuable time at the crease disappear during a mini-collapse of four for 16 after a wicketless morning session.
They faced a combined total of 28 deliveries, with Brook particularly impatient in a brief stay that saw him advance down the track on three occasions and attempt a falling ramp shot that almost carried back to seamer Matt Fisher off the toe end of the bat. Having seen their innings’ cut short, both men put extra miles in their legs with some running drills on the outground.
Root’s lack of a century in 14 Tests in Australia is a point of much debate but Crawley made light of his early exit, noting: “He’s spent a lot of time in the middle over the last few years. I think he’ll be just fine.
“Cricket is cricket, it’s just time in the middle. We’re doing everything we can with what we’ve got and I feel like we’re going to be ready next week.”
Duckett and Crawley set an encouraging tone by sharing 26 fours and striking one six apiece, dominating the morning’s play against a rotating cast of Lions bowlers that reached nine by close of play.
Pope picked up the baton, setting himself with some careful defence before unleashing some clean strikes through the off side. He rode the bounce well to heave Surrey’s Tom Lawes for six over fine-leg but fell shortly after reaching three figures, bowled attempting a sweep off Shoaib Bashir.
That was a rare moment of success for the spinner, who looks increasingly unlikely to make the Test XI after seeing his 16 overs plundered for 68. Bethell put those struggles in the shade by burgling a late three for 14 with his own part-time spin.
England skipper Ben Stokes followed up six wickets with the ball with a muscular 77, confirming his return to fitness after three months of recovery from a shoulder injury.
Mark Wood was sent for scans on his hamstring in the afternoon, with fingers crossed that he has avoided a serious setback.
PA
