Ollie Pope highlights BJ Watling example after reaching warm-up game century as flu-ridden trio step up recovery

After Joe Denly reached a hundred of his own the previous day, Pope also reached three figures – his first in England colours

Ollie Pope pointed to the examples set by BJ Watling and Joe Root during England’s two-Test series in New Zealand as precedents for him to follow after he made a century on the second day of his side’s second warm-up game in South Africa.

The match was initially set to be played out as a first-class fixture, but it was downgraded due to the illness bug running through the tourists’ camp. Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach have all had flu-like symptoms in recent days and all three have been absent from the game against a South Africa A team.

However, Pope assured that the trio were coming along well in their recovery and had been bowling tentatively in the nets while the game was going on. Archer and Broad bowled for 10 minutes on a warm afternoon, while Leach practised for longer. The remainder of the squad have been kept away from the three bowlers in order to minimise any risk of the germs spreading.

“The boys have been training this afternoon and they’re getting back to it now,” Pope said. “It’s been a bit of strange start to the tour with everyone being injured.

“This was supposed to be a first-class game, but ended up not being because we only had three or four seamers to put out. I think the boys are recovering well.”

After Joe Denly reached a hundred of his own the previous day, Pope also reached three figures – his first in England colours. He made 132 before he was dismissed – a wicket that brought about a declaration from Joe Root, with England 456 for 7.

“If you can go out and face 150 balls and get some runs under your belt, you’d rather that than have a five-hour hit and feel a million dollars,” Pope told Sky Sports after play had been called off for the day.

“In New Zealand, they were good batting wickets. They were fairly slow and as a batter, you just had to play the percentages. I learnt that by watching how Watling went about his stuff and Root when he scored that double hundred. You can almost be really specific and wait for the ball to get right in your area.

^{James Anderson was back in bowling action for England}

“I think the way I got out in the first Test two times to pretty rash shots, I wouldn’t say I was trying to score too quickly but I got a bit greedy. You don’t need to take those risks, I don’t think. This wicket we’ve played on here has been a good wicket, so I’ve almost tried to take the same mindset there. If I keep batting time and face as many balls as I can, it’s going to get a lot easier and hopefully the rewards will come later on in my innings.

“I remember in that Hamilton Test, I was something like 15 off 80. They bowled nicely, they set good fields, but I kept telling myself that if I could face another 10 balls, I might get two away and you’re suddenly on 30 and you’re off and running.”

The Surrey youngster is still awaiting his first Test century, but he showed more than a glimpse of his undoubted talent in the second match against New Zealand. He made 75 in a 193-run stand with Root, who made 226 in a game played out on a flat pitch that ultimately ended as a rain-affected draw.

The challenge for batsmen may well be tougher in South Africa, with the surfaces unlikely to offer as little to the bowlers. In Kagiso Rabada, the hosts have one of the world’s premier seamers.

“They’ve got a bit of everything in their attack,” Pope added. “They’ve got pace, they’ve got skill. These wickets so far, they look like they crack up on day three, four, five. They can be good wickets, but then the odd ball you can just see go through the top. If it is like that, you’ve almost got to just put that out your mind.

“I think if you just keep your game as simple as possible, that’s what I’m trying to do out here. Hopefully, that will reap the rewards in the Test matches.”

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