These days, England give their Test cricketers a new cap when they hit 25 and 75 appearances, as well as 50 and 100, the game’s more conventional milestones. They accompany it with a speech from a colleague or coach, then stick it on social media.
For Ollie Pope, 25 caps arrived this week and, as he was lavished with praise by Surrey team-mate Ben Foakes, his face was at once steely and sheepish. There was certainly not much of a smile.
