Pope Believes 'Bazball' Driven Ben Stokes' Side Can Break 90-Year-Old Record Created vs India

The Test cricket is making waves in England again as the "Bazball" is pulling apart West Indies on all ends. Ben Stokes' side has taken a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series, and are gunning for a 3-0 whitewash, with the third and final Test about to begin on July 26. Considering the fearless approach that England have showcased in the last few years under the stewardship of Brendon McCullum, England opener Ollie Pope believes the side can break the ginormous record that has remained untouched since 1936.

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Ollie Pope Believes England Can Score 600 Inside a Day's Play

Ollie Pope reckons England breach the 600-run mark inside a day's play in Test cricket while ruling out any let up to their ultra aggressive 'Bazball' approach with the bat.

England hold the record for the most runs scored in a day when they piled up 588 for 6 on the second day of the Manchester Test against India in 1936, and Pope believes the current side under Ben Stokes can eclipse that.

"Sometimes we might score 280 to 300 in a day but that's OK and probably because we're reading situations. There might also be a day where we go and get 500 to 600 at some point in the future as well. And that's a cool thing to have," Pope was quoting as saying by 'BBC Sport'.

In December 2022, England smashed 506 runs on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.

England are currently 2-0 up in the three-match Test series against the West Indies after they followed up a victory by an innings at Lord's with a comprehensive 241-run win at Trent Bridge, Nottingham last week.
The third and final Test starts on Friday at Edgbaston.

The win in Nottingham was the first time England scored 400-plus in both innings of a Test match with totals of 416 and 425. Pope (121 in first innings) was one of three England centurions in the second Test alongside Joe Root and Harry Brook.

Pope said there might be times England batters will have to "manage the game a little bit more" but that their attacking Bazball style under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Stokes has now become second nature.
"I got asked on day one at Trent Bridge 'do you get told to play like that?'. No, we don't. It's just our natural games and the way we go about it," Pope said. 

(With PTI inputs)