England vs West Indies 2020, 3rd Test, Day 1 – Twitter Reactions

England, riding on an unbeaten 136-run-stand between Ollie Pope [91*] and Jos Buttler [56*] have asserted themselves into a position of strength on the opening day of the final Test against the West Indies, finding at 4-258 before bad light brought a premature end to the days’ play.

Earlier, West Indies captain Jason Holder won the toss and once again decided to bowl first. Kemar Roach may have waited for more than 80 overs when he finally got back-to-back scalps in the last Test, but he did not have much on the first morning.

The right-hander was right on the money from the very outset and his first scalp came on only his sixth delivery of the match when he squared up centurion of the last game Dom Sibley and pinned him in front of the wicket.

Rory Burns looked the most compact of the English top-4. He, along with skipper took England close to the 50-over mark. Root looked quite edgy initially but as it looked he was settling down for a long haul, the English captain was run-out at the stroke of Lunch courtesy a brilliant direct-hit from Roston Chase.

West Indies claimed another big fish (probably the biggest currently) in the form of Ben Stokes in the middle session courtesy an old school ploy from Kemar Roach- Bumper, bumper, followed by a raging inswinger.

After having hit Stokes [20] on his head and getting smacked by the southpaw for a four, Kemar Roach had the last laugh as he knocked over his off-stump with a raging inswinger, which breached the gap between bat and pad to knock over the off-pole. Rory Burns [57] was once again dismissed against the role and to a familiar bowler in Roston Chase after Rahkeem Cornwall plucked out a brilliant catch at first slip.

Also Read: WATCH: Kemar Roach Castles Ben Stokes With A Brilliant Inswinger

Sumptuous Ollie Pope and Rejuvenated Jos Buttler help England take a position of strength against the West Indies

But it was the day of the young Ollie Pope, who once again displayed just why he is rated as a prodigious batting talent. It was a day when even the ‘God of cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar couldn’t help himself but compare young Pope to one of the great drivers of a cricket ball, former England batsman Ian Bell.

Pope’s hand-eye coordination, his reflexes against both pace and spin, his ability to crunch sumptuous drives was on full display today, and it was his calculated assault at the beginning of the post-tea session, is something that put the West Indian bowlers off-guard. And, it was fitting that he got to his half-century with another cracking stroke on the off-side.

Pope’s calculated attack also helped Jos Buttler to settle into his innings. After having started off patiently, Buttler too got into his act, smoking Rahkeem Cornwall for back-to-back sixes in one over.

The wicket-keeper batsman went on to rack up his first half-century in 12 innings as with the duo looking pretty comfortable at the crease, captain Holder claimed the new ball immediately after the culmination of 80 overs.

Ollie Pope, however, continued to display his sumptuous strokeplay, as he on-drove Kemar Roach to enter into the 90s before bad light brought a premature end to the days’ proceedings.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the 1st days’ proceedings of the 3rd Test between England & West Indies:

Been watching the 3rd Test, @<!---->O<!---->P<!---->o<!---->p<!---->e<!---->3<!---->2 seems to have modeled his batting on @<!---->I<!---->a<!---->n<!---->_<!---->B<!---->e<!---->l<!---->l.
His stance and footwork looks exactly the same to me. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->s<!---->E<!---->v<!---->N<!---->K<!---->r<!---->1<!---->Y<!---->F<!---->Z

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Pope looks a magnificent player … Single handidly winning the day for England … The West Indies this session have been awful … #<!---->O<!---->n<!---->O<!---->n !!! Where are the spinners !??????

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

When is Test Cricket going to learn !!! BAD LIGHT …. #<!---->M<!---->y<!---->A<!---->r<!---->s<!---->e

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Kemar Roach on 199 Test wickets.

The last time a West Indies bowler picked his 200th Test wicket, Gary Sobers held the record for highest individual score in Test cricket, Sachin Tendulkar had no ODI 100s to his name and Kapil Dev was still an active cricketer.#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ollie Pope though…

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

https://twitter.com/justkholii__/status/1286706533733105664?s=19

https://twitter.com/Static_a357/status/1286689554070515724?s=19

Ollie Pope is looking ? #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->Ip<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->R<!---->e<!---->M<!---->B<!---->A<!---->l<!---->a<!---->3<!---->8<!---->C

— ICC (@ICC) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ollie Pope is playing the role that England want Jos Buttler to play.

Jos Buttler is playing the role that England expect from Ollie Pope.

2020 for you. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->F<!---->9<!---->M<!---->L<!---->3<!---->J<!---->d<!---->t<!---->F<!---->x

— Varun Desai – Champions of Europe ? (@LWOSVarun) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Smart cricket, good running between the wickets and a well-timed innings.

Oh, and two huge sixes.

A foot adjustment works wonders for Jos Buttler as he reaches a well-earned 50.#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->d<!---->n<!---->0<!---->K<!---->i<!---->p<!---->b<!---->b<!---->F<!---->e

— bet365 (@bet365) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Jos Buttler goes BIG #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->z<!---->o<!---->w<!---->I<!---->w<!---->w<!---->d<!---->S<!---->K<!---->u

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

List of players to average more than Ollie Pope against spin since his Test debut (min 5 matches):

David Warner
Cheteshwar Pujara
Mushfiqur Rahim
Steve Smith#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Nasser – tell me how much time I have left on this earth so I can use it wisely/more unwisely please #<!---->E<!---->n<!---->g<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

1⃣0⃣0⃣ partnership up between these two ?

Fantastic stuff! ????????#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I #<!---->R<!---->a<!---->i<!---->s<!---->e<!---->T<!---->h<!---->e<!---->B<!---->a<!---->t #<!---->R<!---->e<!---->d<!---->F<!---->o<!---->r<!---->R<!---->u<!---->t<!---->h p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->T<!---->o<!---->O<!---->t<!---->U<!---->M<!---->D<!---->l<!---->D<!---->M

— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

How do you get Ben Stokes out?

Something like this will do the job! ??? #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->Ip<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->W<!---->i<!---->P<!---->9<!---->H<!---->P<!---->u<!---->O<!---->N<!---->j

— ICC (@ICC) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Jos Buttler's last three Test scores in while batting at No.6 – 51*, 47, 70

In between he batted at 14 innings mostly at No.7-8 with the highest score of 43.#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ollie Pope reminds me of someone

— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ollie Pope is so so good to watch, majestic player. ??????? #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Louie Viller (@VillerLouie) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ollie Pope averages 124 with the cut shot against seamers in first-class cricket, scoring at 11.3rpo. It's his highest averaging shot. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ollie Pope's been busy against the seamers, but he's been respectful outside off stump. Everything in that channel has been left or defended – but almost everywhere else there's been an inclination to score. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->x<!---->T<!---->p<!---->b<!---->3<!---->B<!---->W<!---->M<!---->D<!---->g

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Being 7 off 36 balls isn't really the point of Jos Buttler the Test cricketer

— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ollie Pope is going to have a bright future in test cricket! Reminds me of Ian Bell a lot! How he uses his feet against spin! ? #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Shane? (@Shanefisher993) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ollie Pope getting treatment from the physio after being hit on the helmet.

He just said ‘person, woman, man, camera, TV’ and he can now carry on. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->F<!---->w<!---->3<!---->w<!---->X<!---->q<!---->S<!---->V<!---->D<!---->4

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ollie Pope is so so good to watch, majestic player. ??????? #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Louie Viller (@VillerLouie) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0