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England “lived up to” the wishes of captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum on an “amazing day” against Pakistan, says batter Ollie Pope.<\/span><\/p>\n England became the first team to score 500 on the first day of a Test in the series opener in Rawalpindi.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n They closed on 506-4 in 75 overs with Pope, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook all making centuries.<\/span><\/p>\n “We really listened to what Baz [McCullum] and Stokesy have said,” Pope said. “It was an amazing day.”<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: “The best thing is everyone has lived by how the two guys up top want us to play. <\/span><\/p>\n “They want us to entertain people. <\/span><\/p>\n “It is not about milestones. It is about putting on a show and putting the team in a good position. The fact everyone is so happy to buy into that puts us in a really good place.”<\/span><\/p>\n The series – England’s first Tests in Pakistan for 17 years – is England’s first overseas assignment since Stokes and McCullum were appointed earlier this year.<\/span><\/p>\n In the summer, the pair instilled a new, attacking approach to impressive effect as they won six out of seven Tests against New Zealand, India and South Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n But in dominating Pakistan’s bowling on a flat pitch they took that on even further, beating the previous record total of runs made on the first day of a Test – Australia’s 494 against South Africa in 1910.<\/span><\/p>\n Opener Crawley’s 122, Pope’s 108 and Brook’s 101 all came at better than a run a ball with Brook reaching three figures in 80 balls – the third fastest ton by an England batter.<\/span><\/p>\n Duckett’s 107 came from 110 balls and was part of a 233-run opening stand with Crawley in 35.4 overs.<\/span><\/p>\n The Nottinghamshire left-hander was playing his first innings since being recalled to the Test side after a six-year absence.<\/span><\/p>\n He said he had inspired to take a more aggressive approach in domestic cricket after watching England earlier in the year.<\/span><\/p>\n “The real change was looking at this squad at the start of the summer,” he said. “I went back to playing with more freedom.<\/span><\/p>\n “I don’t think there will ever be a better environment to be involved in. <\/span><\/p>\n “I am sure there will be lots of cricketers desperate to be in this dressing room and I was one of them last summer. They allow you to play your game and play with freedom.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n