‘This is the first time I’ve felt like a No 3,’ says Ollie Pope after crucial hundred

Ollie Pope described himself as a player transformed by the positive outlook the England team have recently adopted, after his innings of 145 helped drag the home side towards parity in the second Test against New Zealand.

There was certainly a positive outlook for anyone with a view of the scoreboard after Pope banked his first century in 34 attempts, Joe Root made it to stumps unbeaten on 163 and England ended the day on 473 for five, exactly 80 behind.

In first-class cricket Pope averages 72.7 for Surrey but just 27.6 for England, a record that led him to fear he would lose his place after Brendon McCullum was appointed as Test coach. Instead he has received the public backing of the New Zealander and the new captain, Ben Stokes, and was promoted to No 3.

“I don’t think I was necessarily expecting amazing news and to get the phone call I was just buzzing. I remember having a little celebration whilst strolling with my dog,” he said of the moment McCullum broke the news. “This is the first time I’ve felt like I can be a No 3 in red-ball cricket. I’ve made a few technical adjustments to my game and with my mindset, and to get the runs today certifies that in my mind.”

It has not always been easy for an English Test cricketer to feel positive in recent years, but with Alex Lees scoring his debut half-century, Pope profiting from a lightning outfield and Root excelling once again this was very much their day.

“We’re seeing England’s greatest ever,” Pope said of Root, with whom he put on 187 for the third wicket and from whom he received an enthusiastic bear-hug on reaching triple figures. “I don’t think I’ve ever been hugged like that, and I don’t know if I will again. He wants success for his teammates as much as they do