Ollie Pope will lead England for the first time in a three-Test series against Sri Lanka, stepping in for the injured Ben Stokes. Stokes is sidelined for the remainder of the summer due to a left hamstring injury sustained during The Hundred, but he will remain part of the dressing room throughout the series.
As vice-captain, Pope looks forward to drawing on Stokes’ experience when needed but is determined to “do my own thing” starting at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday. The series will be broadcast live on Sky Sports as England looks to build on their recent 3-0 series victory over the West Indies, where Pope scored a century and two half-centuries.
Pope will have fellow batter Harry Brook as his vice-captain. He expressed enthusiasm about Stokes’ presence in the changing room, noting, “It is still Stokesy’s team, and if I want to lean on him, I can. I think he will let me do my own thing.”
“I know how well he has managed our bowlers, and I’ve picked his brains on that. But it will largely be the same messages delivered in my own way. It’s important not to overcomplicate things for myself. I read the game well, and Stokesy and I often share a similar mindset. As the series progresses, that will become clearer.”
Pope praised the experience of teammates like Root and Brook, stating there is ample cricket knowledge within the squad to exchange ideas.
Root’s Confidence in Pope
Former captain Joe Root expressed confidence in Pope’s leadership abilities, stating, “Ollie is a forward-thinking young cricketer who has gained a lot of confidence and experience in recent years. He’s well-respected in the dressing room and shares a similar mindset to Ben regarding how he wants to approach the game.”
Root believes Pope will rise to the challenge and manage the game effectively as Stokes continues to play a role despite his absence.
Team Changes Ahead of Sri Lanka Series
England has made two changes to the XI that clinched the 3-0 victory over the West Indies, with Stokes replaced by Durham fast bowler Matthew Potts, and Dan Lawrence called up to open the batting alongside Ben Duckett due to Zak Crawley’s fractured finger. Potts’ inclusion strengthens the bowling, albeit providing a longer tail, as he could bat in the lower order along with Gus Atkinson.
Pope expressed confidence in the ability of the squad to score runs, highlighting Chris Woakes’ experience and Potts’ recent maiden County Championship century as assets. With 23 wickets in six Tests and a strong performance in the County Championship, Potts will have an opportunity to shine at the international level.
Not Underestimating Sri Lanka
Despite a recent run of victories against Sri Lanka in Test series, Pope stressed not underestimating their opponents. “Our aim is to win 3-0, but we recognize that Sri Lanka has experienced players who have played numerous Tests. We will focus on our best cricket and aim for a strong performance.”
He added that if rain affects play, they will adapt as needed but remain focused on winning regardless of conditions.
Sri Lanka Seeks Opportunity in Stokes’ Absence
Sri Lanka’s captain Dhananjaya de Silva sees Stokes’ injury as a potential advantage for the tourists. As they embark on their first Test series in England since 2016, De Silva acknowledges the challenge ahead but emphasized the importance of Stokes to the England side.
Newcomer Milan Rathnayake will make his debut for Sri Lanka, alongside the versatile Kamindu Mendis, an ambidextrous bowler. The inclusion of former England batter Ian Bell as a batting consultant adds further experience to their camp.
De Silva remarked, “His insights will be valuable for us, and as a batting unit, we are learning from him.”
You can catch the live coverage of England’s first Test against Sri Lanka from Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, starting at 10 AM on Wednesday, with the first ball at 11 AM.
Credit: Sky Sports
