If he hadn't taken it to the Indians, England would never have reached the dominant position they did. He ripped the heart out of the Indian bowlers. He's hit a half century and a century in this test, whereas some others have majorly underperformed.

It was rash and somewhat arrogant, but he's just got to learn from this, but Root, Bethell, Smith, Overton and Atkinson should easily have been enough to see England through. They were 332/4 when Bethell got out.

Pope averages 72 at the Oval, but you wouldn't think so based on this game. Smith averaged 5 and Bethell 5.5 and 6 catches were dropped in that Indian 2nd innings. England went from 175/3 to 247 all out in the first innings. I think that's where the game was lost, not another 370+ run chase.