India v England: Ollie Pope backed by Marcus Trescothick
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India v England: Marcus Trescothick reacts to a poor day one performance from the tourists
England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick has backed Ollie Pope after the vice-captain's run of low scores on the tour of India.
Pope, 26, made a match-winning 196 in the first Test, but has not passed 39 in seven innings since.
He was twice out for nought in their fourth-Test defeat and was stumped for 11 on the first day of the fifth.
"He's adapted really well in certain conditions and certain parts of his game," Trescothick told BBC Sport.
"The more he's tested and plays in these environments and tougher conditions, he's going to improve. After that 196 in the first game, we saw a vast improvement. It's just keeping growing that and encouraging that and he'll be a better player for it."
England lost eight wickets for 81 runs and 5-8 in being bowled out for 218 on the first day in Dharamsala. India moved to 135-1 at the close, in a strong position to win the series 4-1.
The hosts have turned things around since losing the first Test in Hyderabad, when Surrey's Pope played one of the all-time great innings by an England batter overseas.
But he has struggled since, and in registering two ducks in the fourth Test in Ranchi, faced only three deliveries.
Afterwards, head coach Brendon McCullum said Pope was trying to be "calm".
"For him the key is to not have played his innings before he goes out there, just to be nice and relaxed and back himself in that situation," said the New Zealander.
On Thursday in Dharamsala, Pope was again jumpy at the start of his innings, before running past a Kuldeep Yadav googly to be stumped by a distance.
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep, who bowled beautifully for 5-72, said Pope could not "stay still at the crease for a long time".
Kuldeep added: "His style is such that he steps out a lot and tries to dominate the spinners by hitting them down the ground.
"So when you have bowled three dot balls, you think about what he will try on the next ball. He stepped out early, so it was easy for me to change my plan."
Pope is playing his 43rd Test having made his debut as a 20-year-old in 2018. He averages 34.25, but his recent performances have been two enormous scores, surrounded by low ones.
England's number three has passed 50 only twice in Test cricket since December 2022, and on those occasions made 205 against Ireland at Lord's and the 196 in Hyderabad. He also missed the final three Ashes Tests with a shoulder injury.
"Ollie has his own little things he is trying to improve," said former England opener Trescothick. "Getting into an innings is always challenging over here, as is facing high-quality spin.
"That is part of his game he is looking to improve on. I think we'd all agree that after his 196 in Hyderabad we had seen an improvement and we saw parts of his game that are definitely getting better.
"Let's keep allowing that to happen. The more we knock down and put pressure on people, the challenges will come. He's definitely improving, as are many other players in our team."
England had only 13 fit players at the ground on Thursday after Ollie Robinson was struck with illness and spinners Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed earlier left the tour.
That meant 48-year-old Trescothick and fellow assistant coach Paul Collingwood, 47, were listed as fielding substitutes.
Trescothick last played for England in 2006 and retired from first-class cricket in 2019. Former all-rounder Collingwood played his last Test in 2011, and retired from first-class cricket in 2018.
"It's stupid isn't it, really?" said Trescothick. "You think at 48 to be still running out there and doing it. Me and Colly are really enjoying the opportunity to get out, run a few drinks around, be in the middle and sample the atmosphere.
"I'm definitely hoping to not on the field, but Colly is a bit more hopeful than I am. I'd field at long-stop, or under the helmet. It will never happen, so we don't have to worry about that."