ALEC'S CHAT HELPED POPE OUT OF STEW

OLLIE POPE revealed a heart to heart with mentor Alec Stewart helped pave the way for his return to form against New Zealand.

- RORY DOLLARD

Pope's association with the former England captain runs deep, with the 61-year-old overseeing his rise through the ranks as Surrey's director of cricket.

And it was Stewart who Pope (above) sought out after a poor series in Pakistan, during which he averaged just 11.

Some of those questions were answered with his first-innings knock of 77 in Christchurch, a score that was 22 more than he managed in five innings combined on the spinning pitches of Multan and Islamabad.

He credited Stewart (below) with helping him find focus.