Ollie Pope equals record for most catches by substitute fielder

Pope moves level alongside Younis Khan, who took four catches for Pakistan 20 years ago in a win over Bangladesh, and Wriddhiman Saha, who also achieved the feat at the SCG

In catching Alex Carey down the legside off Jack Leach to trigger Australia's declaration, Ollie Pope grabbed a share of the world record for the most catches by a substitute fielder in a Test innings.

Pope took the gloves for England in Australia's second innings at Sydney following hand injuries to Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow. Sam Billings has been called up to the squad as cover ahead of the final Test in Hobart.

Pope was dropped after the second Test defeat at Adelaide and has only been named as the designated wicketkeeper in six first-class matches through his career so far, but he impressed as cover for the more experienced pair, taking four catches.

Two were regulation efforts to give Mark Wood the wickets of David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. But the other pair – standing up to the stumps – were fine pieces of work off Leach's bowling, with Marcus Harris and Carey both offering sharp chances.

"I was impressed by the way Pope stood in today," said Graham Thorpe, England's assistant coach currently filling Chris Silverwood's role while he remains in isolation.

"It's a bit like being a goalkeeper; if you don't notice them, it means they've done very well. It was a while before I noticed him. I thought he did fantastically well."

^{Pope has kept wicket for England once before, on a tour of New Zealand in 2019 (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

He has kept wicket for England once before, when they took just a single specialist wicketkeeper to New Zealand in 2019, only for Buttler to be ruled out of the second Test.

Pope moves level alongside Younis Khan, who took four catches for Pakistan 20 years ago in a win over Bangladesh, and Wriddhiman Saha, whose situation bears several parallels.

Saha's performance also came at the Sydney Cricket Ground almost exactly a year ago in India's draw with Australia en route to their famous series victory. He replaced Rishabh Pant, who had injured his elbow, and went on to claim four catches.

The only previous English substitute to claim three catches in an innings was Bert Strudwick, another Surrey player, who achieved the feat during the 1904 Ashes series.

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