Pope was a member of England's squad which came to India in 2021. After winning the opening Test in Chennai, the visitors\u2019 lost their way to lose the series 3-1, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel running through the batting order.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere will be a lot of outside noise. And pitches can be a massive talking point. But you have to remember the two teams are playing on the exact same wicket, so we just need to be as well equipped as we can.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn England we might leave more grass on the pitch to suit our amazing seamers, so it\u2019s no surprise if India do the same to suit their spinners. And I actually think low-scoring Test matches (where ball has the edge over bat) are pretty amazing to watch.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI saw a fair bit of South Africa versus India and it was great: guys scoring seriously tough runs and the ball flying through. The scores could be similar in India but if the pitches spin from ball one we won\u2019t be complaining. It\u2019s about finding a method to combat it,\u201d said Pope to The Guardian before joining England\u2019s pre-tour preparatory camp in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pope struggled to get going in Indian conditions, managing to score only 153 runs in eight innings at an average of 19.13. He feels one needs to be attacking against the spinners in England\u2019s ultra-attacking style of play will be key to unsettle their lengths, which is also one of his crucial learnings from 2021 tour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe had some young guys on that tour. Myself, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes \u2013 it was our first India tour and we were probably taken by surprise when it turned from ball one (after the first Test). But if we had read the pitch well enough and quickly enough.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI look at the guys who were most successful, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant, they didn\u2019t rotate strike a huge amount. That\u2019s tough to do on those pitches, you can\u2019t just work spin around like in England. You need a really solid defence but also four and six options, to hit the spinners off their length.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe danger ball last time was the one that went straight on \u2013 the ones that spun almost spun too much. It\u2019s like in England when the (seaming) ball goes past your outside edge, you play it well with soft hands or miss it. It\u2019s a case of being at peace with being beaten \u2013 that\u2019s almost a win if you\u2019re covering (lbw and bowled),\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/01\/wont-complain-if-pitches-spin-from-ball-one-its-about-finding-a-method-to-combat-it-ollie-pope.jpeg", "alt_img": "Won\u2019t complain if pitches spin from ball one; it\u2019s about finding a method to combat it: Ollie Pope", "alt_title": "Injured Ollie Pope ruled out of Ashes 2023", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Won\u2019t Complain If Pitches Spin From Ball One; It\u2019s About Finding A Method To Combat It: Ollie Pope On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Won\u2019t Complain If Pitches Spin From Ball One; It\u2019s About Finding A Method To Combat It: Ollie Pope, Ollie Pope: Ahead of England\u2019s five-match Test series that starts in Hyderabad on January 25, vice-captain and top-order batter Ollie.", "seo_keywords": "Ollie Pope, New Delhi, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, In England, South Africa, The Guardian, Abu Dhabi, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant", "tag": "", "tagging": "Ollie Pope, New Delhi, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, In England, South Africa, The Guardian, Abu Dhabi, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "wont-complain-if-pitches-spin-from-ball-one-its-about-finding-a-method-to-combat-it-ollie-pope", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "676", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2024-01-13 14:36:04", "updated": "2024-01-13 14:36:04", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Ollie Pope, New Delhi, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, In England, South Africa, The Guardian, Abu Dhabi, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2024-01-13 14:36:04", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/wont-complain-if-pitches-spin-from-ball-one-its-about-finding-a-method-to-combat-it-ollie-pope-135978" }