The Ashes: Ollie Pope says he feels ready to captain England if Ben Stokes has fitness issues | Cricket News
Ollie Pope says he feels able to captain England in Check cricket this summer time ought to Ben Stokes’ health not permit him to play in every of their six matches.
Stokes’ longstanding left knee damage flared up throughout the sequence in New Zealand in February, limiting his potential to bowl, whereas he solely performed twice for Chennai Tremendous Kings within the Indian Premier League attributable to niggles and non-selection.
Pope was lately appointed as Stokes’ vice-captain forward of a Check summer time which begins with a one-off fixture towards Eire at Lord’s from June 1 after which continues with the five-match Ashes sequence from June 16, with all video games stay on Sky Sports activities.
Pope would lean on England’s skilled gamers if he was required to captain this summer time
The Surrey batter instructed Sky Sports activities Information about being named Stokes’ deputy: “It is a huge honour. I used to be excited to seek out out and it’s a good factor to have, offers you that further little bit of confidence that you’re being backed by administration and team-mates.
“It does not actually change something for me. I’ve tried to assist out Stokesy wherever I can, not that he wants it, if I’ve bought any concepts and we clearly have some nice guys to name upon with wonderful expertise, so these guys will probably be nice to lean on.
“Everybody desires to see Stokesy play all six Checks so fingers crossed his physique is all good and he can try this. But when it’s the case [that I captain] then I really feel [ready]. It’s a huge step up from doing it in warm-up video games however I’ve had a little bit of expertise with it.
Pope was named as Ben Stokes’ deputy forward of the Check summer time
“I’ve been watching Stokesy pretty carefully with how he goes about his captaincy. There is just one Ben Stokes. I would not attempt to be him but when known as upon I really feel assured I can relay the identical messages to the fellows.
“The staff has been collectively for a very long time and guys know what their roles are within the staff so it is about relaying the messages and retaining the optimistic angle.”
Pope: Foakes ‘gutted’ at shedding England spot
Pope’s Surrey team-mate Ben Foakes has misplaced his spot within the England facet, with fit-again Jonny Bairstow to take the wicketkeeping gloves towards Eire after recovering from a damaged leg.
Thursday 1st June 10:00am
Foakes has discovered himself the odd man out with Harry Brook, who initially changed Bairstow within the XI after the latter’s damage final September, beginning his Check profession with 4 tons of and three half-centuries in six matches.
Pope stated: “[Foakes] is clearly fairly gutted however he could have that starvation to maintain growing his sport to get again into the facet. He has been a large a part of what the staff has been about within the final 12 months
“On the similar time Harry Brook has virtually made himself undroppable with the way in which he has performed after which you may have what Jonny [Bairstow] did final summer time [scoring four hundreds in six Tests].
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Jonny Bairstow says he is aware of how Ben Foakes feels after he was overlooked out the squad to face Eire
“It is a severely powerful choice to have been made and everybody feels for Foakesy, it’s not a pleasant place to be in, however everybody is basically excited to have Jonny again within the staff.
“We all know what he can supply and the wonderful issues he did final summer time, so that’s thrilling.”
Bairstow says he went by some ‘darkish days’ after breaking his leg on a golf course final September
England have gained 10 of their 12 Checks since Stokes turned captain they usually adopted an aggressive model of cricket, with Pope satisfied that success can proceed towards Australia.
The 25-year-old added: “An Ashes sequence is larger than any sequence we play, there isn’t any hiding behind that. I would prefer to assume that in England we’re favourites.
“So long as we will preserve relaying these optimistic messages to the group that’s the major factor for us. I’ve 100 per cent confidence we will proceed that run of type.”
Watch England’s Check summer time stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket. The four-day Check towards Eire takes place at Lord’s between June 1-4 with the Ashes sequence underneath approach at Edgbaston from June 16.
