Eoin Morgan blasts Ollie Pope for blunder in Lord's Test, following Michael Vaughan's attack
Published - 01 Sep 2024, 02:24 PM | Updated - 02 Sep 2024, 11:10 AM
Former England skipper Eoin Morgan has criticized Ollie Pope for not continuing to play during the final session of Day 3 of the second Test match against Sri Lanka. Eoin Morgan stated that it was an ideal time for spinners to bowl in such conditions, with the ball turning and bouncing.
England scored 251 runs in their second innings on the third day of the match at Lord's. The home team set a mammoth target of 483 runs. Sri Lanka lost Nishan Madushka (13) and Pathum Nissanka (14) within the first 20 overs. The visitors scored 53 runs for the loss of two wickets.
It's Questionable Decision - Eoin Morgan
Eoin Morgan said that England had nothing to lose and should have kept the spinners on, describing it as a missed opportunity. Morgan said that Sri Lankan batters would have struggled to face England's spinners in the turning and bouncing conditions.
"I think it's a questionable decision. The reason behind that is just the whole context of the last hour or so: it is dark. There's a reason the seamers can't bowl: it is dangerous for everybody concerned," Morgan said on Sky Sports.
"If you're sitting in Sri Lanka's changing room, you're thinking, 'Jeez the last place I want to be is out there with the bat in hand - facing anybody.'
"It's a lose-lose situation. I totally understand the concern for the condition of the ball, but you're talking about England's premium fingerspinner in Shoaib Bashir, who needs to bowl. The ball is turning and bouncing," he added.
Ollie Pope decided to walk off with 22 overs still to play in the fourth innings. The umpires had advised Pope to use spinners instead of seamers due to the fading light after Sri Lanka lost their first wicket. Joe Root and Shoaib Bashir bowled from overs 9 to 12 before the light improved.
The stand-in skipper brought back the pacers, and Olly Stone quickly dismissed Nissanka. Sri Lanka sent in nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya after the second wicket.
However, poor light forced Pope to switch back to spinners. Pope decided to walk off after bowling six overs of spin.
You Have Runs To Play With - Eoin Morgan
Eoin Morgan said that it made no sense for England to walk off the field when the opposition was in a challenging position.
"I question the decision… you have runs to play with, you have two or three new balls, everything in your favour. And yet you're sitting in the changing room," the former skipper opined.
Ollie Pope decided to continue with spinners under similar conditions during the series opener at Old Trafford in Manchester. Joe Root and Shoaib Bashir bowled together for 12 overs, which allowed Sri Lanka to build their first innings. Bowler Milan Rathnayake scored 72 runs on debut.
