Cricket Fans Applaud Pope’s Captaincy as England Overcome Sri Lanka Challenge at Old Trafford

Joe Root channeled his “inner Nasser Hussain” to lead England’s gritty run-chase and secure a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford. The England stalwart praised the adaptability displayed by the team, noting that “sometimes it’s good to win ugly” despite their usual free-flowing “Bazball” approach.

Facing a spirited bowling attack led by Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya, and contending with the increasingly low-bouncing, abrasive Old Trafford pitch that resembled “Sri Lankan conditions,” Root anchored the run-chase with an unbeaten 62 from 128 balls. The usually free-scoring England batter was content to play second fiddle to the heavier hitters, building key partnerships with Harry Brook and Jamie Smith.

“It was a tricky one today,” Root said. “The outfield was as long as I’ve seen for a long time in England, and the wicket itself obviously lost a lot of pace throughout. So it was quite hard to time the ball, and I didn’t really feel comfortable trying to muscle it.”

Smith’s crucial 39 from 48 balls proved pivotal, as the wicketkeeper-batter showed his ability to “bat with the tail and take the game on aggressively” while also “soaking things up” when needed. Root praised Smith’s maturity and composure, noting that it was “lovely to see guys coming in and it not really fazing them.”

The victory also marked the first outing as England captain for Ollie Pope, who endured a challenging match with the bat but received plaudits from Root for his tactical acumen in “constantly trying to move the game in the right direction” despite the tough circumstances.

“He was very much in control of what was going on,” Root said. “It wasn’t straightforward, there were a few different things that you’d have to contend with. It wasn’t your typically English kind of Test match, so hats off to him.”

The win maintains England’s unbeaten run this summer, with Root expressing hope that the team’s free-flowing “Bazball” approach will re-emerge at Lord’s and the Kia Oval in the final two matches of the series.

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