Perth, Nov. 14 -- Ollie Pope has put the critics to rest, who questioned his position in England's Test setup at number three, by blazing his way to a classy century during an erratic innings in the warm-up game on a slow Lilac Hill surface in Perth.

England is refining its approach with a warm-up fixture against the Lions team before engaging in a fierce battle against their oldest rival, Australia, on November 21 at Perth's Optus Stadium in the famed Ashes. After England Lions hammered a daunting 375 on the board despite Ben Stokes' six-wicket haul, England XI's batters came into the spotlight on Day 2.

Ben Duckett (92) and Zak Crawley (82) set the tone by hammering a 182-run opening partnership before England uncharacteristically los...