When the new era of the England Cricket Team in Test cricket started, Brendon McCullum took over as the head coach of the team, Ben Stokes took over as the captain and Ollie Pope was handed over the vice-captaincy duties.
Ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka, Stokes injured himself in The Hundred Mens Competition while playing for the Northern Superchargers and was ruled out of the summer. Vice-Captain, Ollie Pope has stepped in as the captain for the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka.
England have already secured a victory against Sri Lanka under Pope in the first Test in Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester. However, he has failed with the bat in the three innings, scoring 6,6, and 1 respectively.
Meanwhile, Former England captain, Michael Vaughan feels that Pope can’t handle the additional responsibility. He reckons that Harry Brook is the right guy to give the leadership duties.
“I don’t like him as the captain,” Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast. “He’s not the kind of personality I’d want as the England captain.
“He’s quite an insecure human being – a great team guy and person but throwing the captaincy on him has added the pressure. He was doing great at number three.“
“Harry Brook for me is an England captain in the making. I don’t see Ollie Pope as that person.” he added.
He criticized Pope’s form with the bat and his decision making. He feels that Pope is very anxious to get on the ball.
“He has to change. He can’t just keep going like that. If you look at his first ball today, it’s a length ball, probably four or five inches outside off stump. All right, there’s extra bounce, but most players will leave it – you just leave it. He’s so anxious to get bat on ball,” former England skipper remarked.
Michael Vaughan feels that Ollie Pope has not made the number 3 position his own
Vaughan feels that Pope’s stats are not good keeping in mind that he bats at number 3 for England. He feels that when the bowling attacks get better with better teams visiting, Pope will struggle with his technique and England will be under pressure given that their number 3 can’t bail them out.
Pope has played 40 innings at number 3 since 2022 and has averaged 41.53. He has scored five hundreds, including a match-winning 196 against India in Hyderabad.
“I totally agree with Cookie [Alastair Cook] that he needs to try and change a mechanism and a different approach because for a number three, those stats aren’t great. They’re not good at all. And when the attacks get better, and they will do in a year’s time, you just have to have a composure.” Vaughan said.
“Number three, usually is the calmest player, because you’ve lost a wicket, and your job then is to send the message to the dressing room: ‘Don’t worry, things are fine out here,’ and usually you’re up against it. Those stats are glaring, and Ollie has to work something out inside himself.”
