HYDERABAD, India, Jan 29, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - India coach Rahul Dravid on Sunday 
said Ollie Pope's counter attack and reverse sweeps against world-class 
spinners was key to England's victory in the opening Test.

Pope struck 196 to set up a famous 28-run win for England on the fourth day 
in Hyderabad as the tourists took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Pope's marathon knock led England's bounce back from 190 behind at the start 
of their second innings as he blunted the Indian spin attack led by 
Ravichandran Ashwin.

"I certainly haven't seen it being done that consistently," Dravid said of 
Pope's regular use of the unconventional reverse sweep.

"I think the sweep is something that we've seen people employ in the past. 
But to be able to play a reverse sweep that consistently and that 
successfully for that long, you know, hats off and credit to him," said 
Dravid.

"I just want to shake his hand and say, incredibly well done, it was an 
exceptional innings."

The Indian batting great said he expected the home team's spinners to adjust.

"We have just got to get more disciplined with where we pitch the ball and we 
will get better at it.

We have got some world class spinners. It's not that the first time they've 
been challenged.

"One of the good things about our spinners is that they've always bounced 
back."

Pope, who was playing his first Test after returning from a shoulder surgery, 
was named man of the match after he steered England to 420 all out on the 
fourth morning to set India a victory target of 231.

"I think we are facing very skilled bowlers," Pope told reporters.

"You can pretty much know where each ball is going to land and if you try to 
defend each one there's probably more chance to get out than if you play a 
cross-bat shot."

"We practise those shots enough and if you get out for one playing a reverse 
sweep you're not going to get a load of chat in the changing room. You can go 
and commit to it."

India posted 436 in their first innings in response to England 246 but three 
of the home batsmen fell in the 80s including top-scorer Ravindra Jadeja on 
87.

Dravid said the team fell short of runs in their first innings.

"I think conditions were pretty good to bat on day two. I thought in those 
kinds of situations, we got ourselves into some good starts but we did not 
truly capitalise," said Dravid. "We did not get a hundred."

The second Test starts Friday in Visakhapatnam.