England vice captain Ollie Pope has revealed he almost fell asleep during the second Ashes Test due to painkiller drugs.
The 25-year-old batter dislocated his right shoulder while fielding at Lord’s, but played out the match to score 42 and 3 as Australia won to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
He later had to undergo surgery, was ruled out for the remaining three matches and is not expected to play cricket again until November.
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Now he’s spoken about just how bad the pain was, and the accidental side effect the drugs had on him.
“It was sore, I was on heavy painkillers,” Pope told The Telegraph.
“I was falling asleep waiting to bat because the painkillers were so strong. That was kind of annoying.
“Once I got into the innings it was OK. There were shots which jarred it. I didn’t want to carry on on the pitch because you know what the Aussies are like, I didn’t want to have a target on my back.”
Medical staff advised Pope not to field in Australia’s second innings, but officials ruled he had to given he chose to bat after the injury.
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He aggravated the issue while fielding, but again opted to take the crease in his second innings, but was dismissed cheaply.
“I thought worst case scenario I bat for a few minutes and get a few, but at least that keeps Joe Root and Harry Brook in their usual positions,” Pope said.
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“I knew I couldn’t play a pull or cut shot. I got a good ball but would like to think I keep it out normally.
“The lack of movement I had in the second innings, I was probably sweating on the short ball every ball, because I knew I would have to let it hit me, or try to get out the way because I didn’t have any shots above my shoulder.”
Pope was replaced at No.3 by teammate Harry Brook in the third match at Leeds, which England won to make the series 2-1.
The fourth match gets underway in Manchester on Wednesday.
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