HYDERABAD, JAN 27: England veteran Joe Root said Ollie Popes unbeaten 148 on Saturday set a new batting benchmark in Indian conditions after the tourists bounced back on day three of the opening Test.
The visitors were in trouble at 163-5 after starting their second innings behind by 190 when Pope made the day his own with a knock for the ages in Hyderabad.
Pope took on the Indian spinners with back-and-forth sweeps in a batting marathon including a 112-run sixth-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.
England finished the day on 316-6, a lead of 126 runs, to leave the Indian bowling attack searching for answers after early wickets.
"Honestly its an absolute masterclass on how to bat in these conditions as an overseas player," Root told reporters.
"Someone thats not exposed to these surfaces day in day out and to come back off a serious injury like he had in summer and have that amount of time out of the game and then put together that... Im speechless."
Root, who has scored over 11,000 runs at an average of over 50 in 136 Tests, added: "Its one of the best knocks that Ive ever seen. Ive seen a lot of cricket.
"To witness that today was really special. Im so, so pleased for him."
Pope struck his fifth Test ton and first against India to stand calm after England lost key batsmen including Root (two), Jonny Bairstow (10) and skipper Ben Stokes (six).
Roots own mastery of the sweep and reverse has seen him successfully counter spin on sub-continent tracks, but he said Popes knock had shifted the standards. —AFP
