"Ollie Pope has been a disappointment at No. 3" - Geoffrey Boycott
Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott reckons Ollie Pope isn't fit to bat at No. 3 and that he has been a disappointment. Boycott said that the Surrey batter's defence is vulnerable, and he looks to score off every ball.
Pope, recalled to bat at No.3, ahead of the previous summer, played decently in the first innings of both Tests. However, the right-hander lost his stumps in the second innings on both occasions, with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc breaching through his defences with ripping deliveries.
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In his column for The Telegraph, Boycott said that Pope must learn to respect the good balls and learn a tight defensive technique.
"Ollie Pope has been a disappointment at No.3. For me, he looks intent on scoring off every ball against the new ball; that is very dangerous.
"By all means, don't just defend, but be more selective. Against quality bowlers with a new ball, you should accept that they will bowl good balls, and you must be able to defend. His defence is not tight enough."
While the 108-Test veteran admitted that Harry Brook has looked the real deal, he lamented the youngster's failure to take calculated risks.
"Since his arrival in international cricket, Harry Brook has looked like a world-beater, new star, but he is getting himself out. He is trying to whack anything and everything.
"That's crazy batting and a waste of his talent. By all means, stay positive - nobody wants him to change and become defensive - but use your brain, and bat the percentages."
Brook's first-innings dismissal at Lord's after his fifty attracted plenty of criticism as he sliced a short-pitched delivery off Mitchell Starc to cover. Boycott, sitting in the stands at that time, covered his face in disappointment.
"England's biggest plusses have been new boys Ben Duckett and Josh Tongue" - Geoffrey Boycott
The former Yorkshire batter feels Ben Duckett looked like a compact player at Lord's, given how straight he played:
"England's biggest plussees have been the new boys Ben Duckett and Josh Tongue. Duckett learned quickly after getting out twice at Edgbaston in his favourite area: steering the ball behind square on the off side.
"At Lord's, he played straighter, even left the occasional ball, and he looked every inch a sound opening batsman. His batting was first-class."
Boycott also praised Josh Tongue for unsettling Australian batters with his pace and bounce.
"I liked Tongue as he rolled his sleeves up and got stuck in. He bowled with fire in his belly, good pace, movement, and best of all, he got lift at times that unsettled Australia, hitting their batsmen on their arms, body, and gloves."
Duckett scored 98 and 83 at Lord's, while Tongue picked up five wickets, albeit both efforts came in a losing cause as England find themselves 2-0 down with three Tests to go.