Pope to continue as England’s number 3 in the Ashes with warm-up game unlikely to affect selection for first Test.
England hint Pope will retain No.3 berth for Perth Ashes opener.
Ollie Pope is expected to defeat Jacob Bethell to be selected for the opening Test match against Australia in Perth next week, as England has intimated that they will select him at No. 3 in their warm-up match against the Lions on Thursday.
Harry Brook stated that Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes informed the team at the beginning of their Tuesday training session that they will be “going hard” against the Lions in their three-day practice match. The Lions, who have sent an 18-man group to Australia, may potentially include some English players.
“That was partly what Baz and Stokesy said,” Brook told England’s social channels. “We’re going hard. We’re going to go 100%. We’re going to try and beat them. I think we’re going to be selecting an XI and playing against another XI, so it’s not going to be just a mess-around… It’s good preparation playing against some of the best players in England ahead of the Ashes.”
Since Bethell struck three half-centuries at No. 3 during his first Test series in New Zealand last year, Pope’s position has been under siege. The rumours that Bethell might start the Ashes in the position were only heightened by England’s decision last month to give Brook the vice leadership instead of Pope.
However, one of McCullum’s assistant coaches, Marcus Trescothick, strongly hinted that Pope would still play in the warm-up game.
“I’m presuming the same sort of No. 3 we’ve had for a period of time,” he told BBC Sport, when asked who would bat there. He added: “I can only say we are a very consistent team in what we’re trying to do.”
“It’s definitely not going to change dramatically before the start of an Ashes series because someone puts their hand up by taking five wickets or gets 150,” he said. “The team has been what it has been for a period of time for a reason, so that when you come to big series, you are more settled and confident going into it.”