Cricket

Ollie Pope, England's stand-in captain, has sought guidance from former skipper Joe Root on balancing the demands of batting and leadership. Pope, who led England to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Old Trafford, struggled with the bat, scoring twice for six.Despite the team's success, Pope recognized the need to separate his captaincy and batting responsibilities. He turned to Root, who captained England for a record 64 Tests, for advice. Root, known for his exceptional batting skills, emphasized the importance of compartmentalizing the two roles."It's about having the two things separate," Pope said. "That's something I've spoken to Joe Root about. We just spoke about how it's more taxing in the field but it's finding a little routine and doing small things."Pope acknowledged Root's "great cricket brain" and sought his insights on managing the mental and physical demands of captaincy. Root's experience in leading England through challenging times proved invaluable to Pope.While England's aggressive batting approach under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum has been successful, Pope highlighted the importance of adaptability. He praised Root's unbeaten 62 off 128 balls in the first Test, which showcased a more measured approach on a slow pitch."We don't use the term 'Bazball' but we played a different style of cricket (at Old Trafford) and that's something that can keep taking us forward as a team," Pope said.Despite Stokes' absence due to injury, Pope expressed confidence in his return for the upcoming tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. He believes that the break will allow Stokes to improve his game and return refreshed.

England's stand-in Test captain Ollie Pope has signed a deal with the Adelaide Strikers for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. Pope, who is currently leading England against Sri Lanka in the absence of Ben Stokes, will join the Strikers after the Test tour of New Zealand, which concludes on December 18.Pope, a dynamic batsman and wicketkeeper, will be a valuable addition to the Strikers' squad. He boasts an impressive T20 record, having scored 1295 runs at an average of 28.77 and a strike rate of 132.82. However, he endured a lean spell in the recent Hundred tournament for London Spirit, managing only 35 runs in five innings.The 24-year-old will have the opportunity to team up with Ashes rivals Travis Head and Alex Carey, who recently signed a new four-year deal with the Strikers. Head and Carey will be available for a brief period during the BBL after the India Test series."Ollie Pope is an exceptional talent with a proven track record at the highest level," said Tim Paine, the Strikers' new head coach. "His dynamic batting style and wicket-keeping abilities are a fantastic addition to our squad."The Strikers had previously considered signing allrounder Jamie Overton as their pre-draft signing, but they will now have the option to use their retention option during the draft if they wish to bring back the England player, who made a significant impact last season.Meanwhile, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has not nominated for the BBL draft, meaning he will miss the tournament for the second consecutive season. Khan has international commitments with Afghanistan during the early part of the BBL and has also signed a contract with the SA20 league.The BBL draft will take place on September 1, and the Strikers will be hoping to add further depth to their squad with some astute selections.

England's Test squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka has been announced, with several notable changes. Fast bowler Matthew Potts has been recalled to the team, while Ollie Pope will take over as captain in the absence of Ben Stokes.Stokes, who has been a key figure in England's recent resurgence under coach Brendon McCullum, is set to miss the entire series due to a hamstring injury sustained during the Hundred. His absence will be a significant blow to the team, as he has been a driving force behind their aggressive "Bazball" approach.Pope, who has only captained Surrey in one first-class match, will now lead the side. The 25-year-old is a talented batsman who has been in good form for England in recent months. However, he will have a tough task on his hands, as Sri Lanka are a dangerous team, especially in their own conditions.Potts, who has impressed for Durham in the County Championship this season, has been recalled to the Test squad for the first time since making his debut against Australia in 2022. The 24-year-old is a promising young bowler who could add some much-needed pace to England's attack.Other players who have been given a chance to prove themselves in Stokes's absence include batter Harry Brook and all-rounder Jamie Overton. Brook has been in excellent form for Yorkshire in the County Championship, while Overton has impressed for Somerset.England will be hoping to start the series well at Old Trafford, where they have a good record. However, Sri Lanka will be no pushovers, and they will be looking to make a statement against a weakened England side.

Ollie Pope, the 82nd captain of England's Test team, will lead the side against Sri Lanka on Wednesday in the absence of injured skipper Ben Stokes. Pope, who has captained only once in first-class cricket, is determined to deliver "the same messages from a different voice" while acknowledging that "it's still Stokesy's team."Despite his limited captaincy experience, Pope has been England's vice-captain since last summer and has led Surrey in eight T20 Blast matches this season. He believes that his appointment as captain is a "great honor" and an opportunity for the team to "take a step forward."Stokes, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, will remain with the squad and provide support to Pope. Pope welcomes Stokes' presence, stating that he can "lean on him" if needed. He also appreciates Stokes' guidance on managing bowlers, an area where he seeks to improve.Pope's recent batting form has been inconsistent, but he is confident that his captaincy responsibilities will not hinder his performance. He emphasizes the importance of compartmentalizing his roles and relying on experienced teammates like Harry Brook and Joe Root for support.England will face a Sri Lankan team that recently defeated India in an ODI series. Pope is wary of Sri Lanka's experience but insists that England's focus is on their own performance. He aims for a 3-0 series whitewash but acknowledges that Sri Lanka poses a significant challenge.

England's Test series against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, commencing Wednesday, presents an opportunity for several players to prove their worth in the absence of injured captain Ben Stokes. Stokes' hamstring injury has ruled him out of the three-match contest, leaving England without their inspirational leader for the first time since the inception of the dynamic "Bazball" era under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.Ollie Pope, England's vice-captain, will assume the captaincy despite having led Surrey in only one first-class match. The team announced on Monday that fast bowler Matthew Potts has been recalled, bolstering their attack to five bowlers.Dan Lawrence, rarely deployed as an opener in county cricket, returns to the England side after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, filling the vacancy created by Zak Crawley's fractured finger. Crawley sustained the injury during England's 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies last month.England is expected to achieve a similar result against Sri Lanka, who, like the West Indies, have played only one warm-up match before the first Test. However, England's approach under McCullum has often defied conventional cricket wisdom, so it is unsurprising that they have opted against replacing Crawley with a specialist opener.Lawrence himself believes his aggressive style aligns well with the current England setup. "I think that's the style of cricketer that Baz McCullum and Ben Stokes are generally after," Lawrence said. "I'm just going to go out there and try to be as free as possible."Sri Lanka, while lacking the star power of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, boasts experienced performers in Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne. Dhananjaya de Silva's side will also benefit from the guidance of interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya, a Sri Lankan great, and former England batsman Ian Bell, who provides local knowledge.Sri Lanka's last Test match was in April, but they recently upset India in a three-match one-day international series. Jayasuriya believes the timing of the current campaign could favor Sri Lanka. "The fact that we have got a late-summer tour is great," he said. "It's more similar to our conditions than the early summer tours."

Ollie Pope's appointment as England's Test captain for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka has sparked discussions about his leadership potential and the team's preparations for the Ashes next year. Former captain Nasser Hussain believes Pope's experience as captain will be invaluable, especially if Ben Stokes is injured in the future.Hussain emphasized the importance of having multiple leadership options, particularly in a high-stakes series like the Ashes. He noted that Pope's appointment will allow him to gain valuable experience and develop his leadership skills. However, Hussain also acknowledged that Pope's leadership style may not be as natural as Stokes's.Michael Atherton echoed Hussain's views, suggesting that Pope may feel like a "caretaker" captain in Stokes's absence. He believes Pope may be hesitant to make significant changes to the team's approach, given Stokes's strong influence.The article also discusses England's selection dilemmas, with Zak Crawley ruled out due to injury. Hussain believes head coach Brendon McCullum will prioritize innovation over recalling dropped players. He suggests that younger players like Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, and Olly Stone could be considered for higher batting positions.Atherton highlighted the potential of Dan Lawrence to bring his aggressive style to the top order in Crawley's absence. He believes Lawrence will relish the opportunity to open the batting and contribute to England's positive approach.Overall, the article provides insights into the challenges and opportunities facing England as they prepare for the Sri Lanka series and the Ashes. Pope's leadership, the team's selection decisions, and the impact of McCullum's coaching philosophy will be key factors to watch in the upcoming matches.

Ollie Pope, the England wicketkeeper-batter, believes that the current England Test team has the potential to break the record for the most runs scored in a day in Test cricket. The current record stands at 588 for 6, set by England against India in 1936.Pope's comments come after England's impressive performance in the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge, where they scored 416 and 425 in their two innings. It was the first time England had scored 400-plus in both innings of a Test match."Sometimes we might score 280 to 300 in a day, but that's OK and probably because we're reading situations," Pope said. "There might also be a day where we go and get 500 to 600 at some point in the future as well. And that's a cool thing to have."England's aggressive approach with the bat, known as "Bazball" after coach Brendon McCullum, has been a key factor in their recent success. They smashed 506 runs on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in December 2022.Pope said that while there may be times when England batters need to "manage the game a little bit more," their attacking style has become second nature."I got asked on day one at Trent Bridge 'do you get told to play like that?' No, we don't," Pope said. "It's just our natural games and the way we go about it."England are currently 2-0 up in the three-match Test series against the West Indies. The third and final Test starts on Friday at Edgbaston.

England's victory over the West Indies in the second Test at Trent Bridge marked their first multi-match series win since the end of 2022. This triumph has instilled a sense of optimism within the team, with vice-captain Ollie Pope expressing his hope that it can become a habit.Despite losing only one series under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England's recent defeat to India highlighted the need to regain their winning ways. The team's success in this series, which gives them a 2-0 lead heading into the final Test at Edgbaston, has provided a much-needed boost.The series victory has been achieved with the help of several new faces, reinforcing Pope's belief in the team's future. Gus Atkinson's impressive debut performance, with 12 wickets in the match, has compensated for the absence of James Anderson. Jamie Smith's 70 in his maiden innings and seven catches have ensured a smooth transition in the wicketkeeper position. Shoaib Bashir's match-winning 5 for 41 in the second Test vindicated the decision to select him over Jack Leach.The seamless integration of new players into the team is a testament to the positive environment fostered by the selectors. Pope believes that the team has a "really nice balanced attack and batting line-up" that can continue to build on its success.Pope's own contribution to the batting line-up was evident at Trent Bridge, where he scored 121 in England's first innings and 51 in the second. Despite being dropped twice, he has emerged from a slump that saw him average just 19.05 in his previous 18 red-ball knocks.The team's ability to score 400 runs in both innings for the first time in history is a testament to their aggressive approach. Pope acknowledges that the batters are looking to adopt a more "ruthless" approach while retaining their capacity to attack opposition attacks.

England's dominance continued on Day 2 of the second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge, as they bowled out the visitors for 416, setting up a commanding position in the match.Resuming on 349/6, England added 67 runs to their overnight total, with Ollie Pope completing a magnificent century (121). Ben Duckett (56) and captain Ben Stokes (54) also contributed valuable runs.West Indies' bowlers struggled to contain England's aggressive batting, with Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood proving particularly effective. Atkinson claimed 4/111, while Wood took 3/72.In response, West Indies made a shaky start, losing opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul for a duck. However, Kraigg Brathwaite (55) and Shamarh Brooks (50) steadied the innings with a 100-run partnership.But England's bowlers struck back, with James Anderson dismissing Brathwaite and Wood removing Brooks. Jermaine Blackwood (45) and Jason Holder (43) offered some resistance, but West Indies were eventually bowled out for 287.Anderson, playing his final Test match, finished with figures of 2/43, while Wood claimed 3/59.England now hold a 129-run lead heading into Day 3, with West Indies facing an uphill battle to save the match.