England's Ollie Pope a doubt for first Test against India after suffering thigh injury in Vitality Blast

London: England batsman Ollie Pope was on Saturday rendered a doubtful starter for the opening Test against India after suffering a thigh injury during his stint for Surrey in the Vitality Blast. The 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman sustained a thigh muscle injury on 2 July during Surrey’s match against Kent in the domestic T20 tournament. [caption id=“attachment_8640471” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] File image of England’s middle-order batsman Ollie Pope. AP[/caption] “Pope has been ruled out until England’s LV= Insurance Test Series against India after suffering a left thigh muscle injury,” England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement. “The ECB and Surrey fitness teams will work together to deliver Pope’s rehabilitation with a focus for him to be available to return for the first Test against India.” That first Test starts at Trent Bridge on 4 August. Pope has scored 882 runs in 19 Tests with a highest score of 135 not out against South Africa in January, 2020. However, he has not been able to reach 35-run mark in his last 8 Tests. If he is unable to recover from the injury in time then Dawid Malan, who has impressed with the bat in England’s limited-overs cricket, may get a chance.