The Ashes 2023: England's Ollie Pope says he almost fell asleep on painkillers at Lord's

Venue: Emirates Old Trafford Dates: 19-23 JulyCoverage: Daily Today during test highlights on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. Ball-by-Ball Test Match Special Commentary on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app, which offers live text commentary and in-play video clips.

Pope, 25, dislocated his right shoulder in the field but defied the injury to go 42 and three with the bat.

He was named in the squad for the third test at Headingley, but was later ruled out for the rest of summer.

"It was painful, I was on heavy painkillers," Pope told the Telegraph.

"I fell asleep waiting to fight because the painkillers were so strong. It was more like boring.

"Once I started innings, everything was fine. There were gunshots that shook him. I didn't want to continue on the pitch because you know how Australians are, I didn't want to have a target on my back."

Pope was put on the pitch in Australia's second innings after officials decided he was fit to do so after beating.

< p class="" data-reactid=" .rft6iljzd8.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-9">He said officials "did go against the recommendations of medical staff" and it was "quite frustrating ".

He played halfway through but then aggravated the injury trying to 'stop a shot and save some points.

"I was pretty flat then", said Pope: "The first time, you fear the worst, but you hope it was just very bruised. The second time I knew."

It then made the stick in the second inning even more difficult for English number three.

"I thought worst case I beat for a few minutes and get a few, but at least that keeps Joe Root and Harry Brook in their usual positions," Pope said.

"I knew I couldn't play a shot or cut. I have a good ball but I would like to think that I keep it normally.

"The lack of movement I had in the second set, I was probably sweating on the short ball at every bullet, because I knew I should let him hit me, or...