
Stand-in captain Ollie Pope has defended England’s careless batting display in their Third Test defeat to Sri Lanka, insisting a “lack of hunger” was not to blame for the twin collapses that cost his side the chance to complete a perfect home summer.
England had won all five of their Tests this summer - three against West Indies and two against Sri Lanka - heading into the series finale at Kia Oval and looked well set to make it six out of six when reaching stumps on day one in command at 221 for three, with Pope himself having made a brilliant hundred.