7.3 C
Manchester
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Other SportsStand-in captain Ollie Pope says 'England still Stokes' team'

Stand-in captain Ollie Pope says ‘England still Stokes’ team’

England’s temporary captain Ollie Pope says the team is still very much under the reign of Ben Stokes, despite taking charge for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.

Stokes has been ruled out of the event after injuring his hamstring for the Northern Superchargers during The Hundred this month.

It means 26-year-old Pope will become the nation’s 82nd Test captain, although Stokes will still be with the squad throughout.

Speaking ahead of the First Test on Wednesday, Pope said: “He leads us and he’s still in the changing room. It’s great to have him around.

“None of the messages are going to be different, we’re not going to play any differently. I’ll just be getting similar messages across, in my own way.

“He’s going to let me go do my thing over the course of this series, which is good for me.

“At the same time he’s obviously going to be watching, so I can have those conversations in the intervals if I think anything needs to change. It’s only a positive having him around.

“Having the vice-captaincy role has given me the opportunity to get my head around it if this opportunity came about.

“I’ve thought about it on the pitch, watched Stokesy closely as to how he manages the bowlers and the way he goes about it in the changing rooms.

“There are a few little bits I’ll take from him. It’s not a massive issue that I haven’t captained a lot in first-class cricket.”

Pope will become the fifth man to captain England for a Test series since 2009.

But alongside the absent Stokes, Pope will be without opener Zak Crawley, who broke his finger last month.

Sri Lanka have said that they may have a better chance of winning the Test due to Stokes’ absence, but Pope will be determined to prove he has what it takes to step up to the task.

Mitch Fretton
Mitch Fretton
Mitch is a freelance sports journalist with experience working for LiveScore, GOAL and Colchester United. He has experience working from both his desk at home and in the press box at games covering the Champions League and international football.
Latest

Leasing an Electric Car Now Costs Less Than a London Travelcard

Drive a Dacia Spring for £112/month via salary sacrifice* TfL Zone 1-2 travelcard priced at £171.70 More affordable than top-tier gym plans and...

ECB’s Intraday Liquidity Standards Set the Bar High — But Banks Face a Steep Learning Curve

Banks across the Eurozone are feeling the weight of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) tightened intraday liquidity rules, as new findings from Planixs —...

Work starts on a permanent home for Star Radcliffe Academy

Work has begun on creating a permanent home for Star Radcliffe Academy. The secondary school is the first in Radcliffe for over a decade, offering...

Two men arrested in money laundering crackdown

Warrants were carried out yesterday as part of an operation cracking down on money laundering in Greater Manchester. Two men, aged 30 and 25, have...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Business Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Don't miss

XIMEA Introduces World-Leading 245MP Camera with Sony IMX811 BSI Sensor

Renowned for its innovation in high-performance imaging, XIMEA has added a new powerhouse to its xiX-XL line – a medium format camera equipped with...

Economic survey reveals inflation is ‘number one concern’ for Greater Manchester businesses

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce has released the findings of its Quarterly Economic Survey, providing a decisive snapshot of the region's economic health amidst...

Daredevil Malcolm Guest forsakes wheelchair for charity zip wire challenge

Malcolm Guest is taking to the skies for a zip wire challenge in aid of the MS Therapy Centre. On April 15, the 64-year-old from...

Stockport man jailed for posting racist and antisemitic content online

A Stockport man has been jailed for posting racist and antisemitic videos that ‘intended to incite racial hatred’. Damion Bennett (30) of Hall Street, Offerton,...

More News

F1 Australian Grand Prix 2025: Report, result, highlights as Norris savours ‘stressful’ win

Lando Norris praised McLaren's "amazing car" after overcoming unpredictable conditions to beat reigning champion Max Verstappen and win the F1 Australian Grand Prix 2025...

India vs Australia: Preview, expected lineups, how to watch on TV and prediction for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

India vs Australia: The State of Play India will be targeting a third consecutive appearance in the final when they face Australia in the first...

New Zealand vs India: Preview, expected lineups, how to watch on TV and prediction for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

New Zealand vs India: The State of Play Two teams in excellent form meet on Sunday when New Zealand and India collide in their final...