Following a stunning day of action on the second day of the Leeds Test against India, England opener Ben Duckett praised centurion Ollie Pope for his knock and opined on tackling Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah. However, the hosts dominated the majority of the day with Pope scoring his ninth Test ton.
Speaking about Pope’s century, Duckett said in the post-match presser, “Yeah, I just think he was so calm coming out. You know, he probably could not walk out in tougher conditions with Jasprit running down the hill with the lights on, so, you know, to, I think at one point he was run-a-ball 50 or around that, so. It was great batting with him. I always have a good time out there in the middle with him, and it was goosebumps when he got to 100, you know, you could see what it meant to him. He is such a big part of this dressing room, and it was just great to see him be there 100 not out.”
However, Ben Duckett also praised Jasprit Bumrah, who took all of England’s three wickets, and he is good irrespective of the conditions.
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“He is good in India on the flattest pitches ever, and you know when he is coming in down the hill with the lights on and it is swinging both ways, it is tough, and I feel like we minimise the damage early on. You know, it could have been a lot worse today, so I think we are pretty happy in the position we’re in,” he added.
“First of all, how unique his run-up is. You are obviously waiting and waiting for him to get there, um, and I think just his ability to bowl three or four different balls with no cue. You do not know he is bowling a bouncer or a slower ball or an outswinger or an inswinger until it comes out of his hand, really. He has got such a fast wrist. So that is why you have got to watch the ball so hard with him,” he further added.
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Speaking of pacer Josh Tongue, who also claimed four wickets, Duckett called him the “X-Factor”, who can wipe out tailenders quickly as well.
“You know, there’s nothing more frustrating than 9, 10, 11 (batters) chipping in with runs and putting on a partnership,” he concluded.
