Ollie Pope relishing chance to ‘dictate’ England batting in No 3 slot

Ollie Pope may have had a twinkle in his eye when he remarked that the series decider that starts on Thursday against South Africa is being played at the “Home of Cricket”, but his love for the Oval is perfectly understandable.

Having made his debut for Surrey in 2017, Pope averages 88.54 from 21 first-class matches in SE11, including nine centuries and a career-best 274 against Glamorgan. The famous old ground may have a reputation as a batting paradise but the raw numbers are still mightily impressive from the 24-year-old right-hander.

Pope’s returns for England remain a work in progress, with an average of 30 from his 29 caps not yet fulfilling the predictions of greatness that have followed him since day one. In Australia last winter he looked racked with indecision and his tour ended in Hobart with the ignominy of being bowled round his legs by Pat Cummins.

But this summer there is a growing sense Pope is finding his feet. He had the gumption to phone Ben Stokes at the start of the season when he realised No 3 would be the only vacancy in the XI, asking to take on this hugely unfamiliar role, and has since compiled a second Test hundred – his 145 against New Zealand at Trent Bridge set up a barnstorming win – plus a couple of half-centuries.

“I’d like to think so,” replied Pope, when asked if he had made the spot his own. “We don’t talk about those things too much but the feedback I’ve got has been great and the confidence that is given from the top from [the head coach] Brendon McCullum and Stokes has been great as well.

“It’s been new for me but, to be honest, once you’re out at the crease nothing changes. There’s still a ball coming down at you. And it’s a great place to bat – you can dictate how the innings