England vs India: Ollie Pope released from English squad

England batsman Ollie Pope who was not in the playing XI for the second Test match has been released from the squad and allowed to play for Surrey against Derbyshire.

A left thigh muscle injury in the Vitality Blast match against Kent Spitfires had kept Pope out of action since July 2 and he was working hard to get fit ahead of the Test series against India.

Since making his Test debut against India at 'The Lord's in 2018, the right-handed Pope has made 882 runs in 19 Tests. Pope's highest score in Tests is an unbeaten 135 against South Africa in 2020, apart from five half-centuries.

He has been the part of the England team in the recent times in the absence of Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler. He also scored a century and five half-centuries.

But in the last eight Tests he featured in, the 23-year-old Pope has been unable to reach the 35-run mark.