Brisbane, Dec 6: Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has taken a sharp swipe at England No. 3 Ollie Pope, labelling his batting approach “reckless” after the right-hander fell to another soft dismissal on Day 3 of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba.
England, already under immense pressure after Australia stretched their first-innings lead earlier in the day, ended the third evening in deep trouble at 134 for 6 — still 43 runs short of making Australia bat again. Not a single English batter managed to reach fifty, despite several getting promising starts.
Pope’s dismissal for 26 drew the strongest reactions. Looking settled at 26 off 31 balls, the England vice-captain attempted to drive a fuller delivery from Michael Neser but was far too early into the shot. The ball nipped back, clipped the inside half of his bat and lobbed gently back to the bowler, leaving Pope visibly frustrated.
Gilchrist, speaking on Fox Cricket, said Pope’s repeated attempts to impose himself on the bowlers were becoming his downfall.
“His desire to keep attacking and keep imposing himself on the bowling unit is what’s bringing him undone,” he said. “Tonight was reckless.
It just looked like reckless cricket — and a little too predictable from what we’ve seen across his four innings this series.”
He added that Pope must reassess his strategy ahead of the third Test in Adelaide.
“There’s a bit for him to think about before he goes to Adelaide,” Gilchrist remarked.
Pope’s struggles in Australia continue to mount. He now averages just 18.71 in 14 Test innings against the hosts and is yet to score a fifty on Australian soil.
In this match alone, he followed a three-ball duck in the first innings with another lapse in the second.With England staring at another uphill battle in Brisbane, Pope’s form — and his decision-making — has become a growing concern for the visitors as the series moves forward.(Agencies)
