Ollie Pope's unbeaten century has done wonders to prop up England's aspirations in the ongoing Test. As Joe Root said, they have high hopes going into the fourth morning on Sunday.

"The way that Popey has played today… honestly, it's an absolute masterclass on how to bat in these conditions," Root said.

"As an overseas player, someone who's 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… I’m speechless.

"It’s one of the best knocks that I've ever seen. I’ve seen a lot of cricket. Played and batted out there in the middle with a lot of brilliant players and to witness that today was really special. I'm so, so pleased for him."

Root hasn't been surprised by Pope's exploits. "I knew what he was capable of. I don't think it is a coming-of-age thing, that happened already… two summers ago really. This is another example that he has that capability and skill, level, desire, mental capacity to go and do that."