England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope etched his name in Test cricket history on Friday, becoming the first cricketer ever to score his first seven Test centuries against seven different opponents. The milestone century, an unbeaten 103 runs off 103 balls, was achieved on the opening day of the third Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval. This performance not only propelled England to a strong 221/3 but also cemented Pope’s place in the record books.
Pope’s return to form was particularly notable, given his recent struggles. Prior to this match, he had managed only 30 runs in four innings since assuming captaincy for the injured Ben Stokes at the beginning of the series. Friday’s innings marked his first century as captain, his 12th first-class hundred, and his seventh in Test cricket. What makes this achievement truly impressive is the diversity of opponents he has faced.
Pope’s journey to these seven centuries began in January 2020 against South Africa, where he scored an unbeaten 135 while batting at No. 6. This was the only century Pope made outside the No. 3 position. His next century came against New Zealand in Nottingham in January 2022, a score of 145 at the No. 3 spot. In December 2022, Pope notched his third Test century, a rapid 108 off 104 balls against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. The fourth century came in June 2023, a magnificent 205 off 208 balls against Ireland at Lord’s, marking his first Test double hundred.
Pope then delivered one of the best innings by a visiting batter on Indian soil in January 2024, scoring 196 runs against India in Hyderabad. His sixth Test century was in July 2024, when he scored 121 runs against the West Indies in Nottingham. With his unbeaten 103 against Sri Lanka at The Oval, Pope completed his remarkable feat, achieving seven centuries against seven different Test-playing nations in six different venues. This achievement is unprecedented in the history of cricket.
Australia, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan are the only Test-playing nations against whom Pope has yet to score a century. With the exception of Australia, he has not faced these teams in his career to date.
Ollie Pope’s ability to consistently notch centuries against such a diverse set of opponents is a testament to his adaptability and skill. This achievement reinforces his status as a noteworthy figure in the annals of Test cricket.
