Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
Former England international Nasser Hussain expects Ollie Pope to succeed as captain in the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Ben Stokes, who has done a commendable job as a leader, will miss the entire series due to a hamstring injury and that has not only put England in a tough spot as far as leadership goes but the combination is also something that the team management needs to sort out.
It needs to be seen if the hosts play an extra batter to replace Stokes or include a pacer to take care of the bowling unit, especially as James Anderson is no longer available. Pope, who has been appointed as captain for the series, has a very tough job on his hands but as per Hussain, it’s a great opportunity for the cricketer.
Over the years, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has backed Pope through thick and thin. To make him feel valuable, he was also appointed as vice-captain when Stokes took over but he never had a major role on the field as the all-rounder was always available. This is the first time he will miss out and it gives Pope a chance to prove that he is the right person to lead the team in Stokes’ absence.
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“I wish Pope all the best against Sri Lanka. He may do such a good job that the debate about who takes over once Stokes steps down comes to a swift conclusion. The succession planning may be taken care of,” Hussain wrote in his column for The Daily Mail.
“For the moment, though, this is Ollie Pope’s moment. Assuming Stokes recovers from his hamstring injury in time for the trip to Pakistan in October, Pope has three games to show he can be his natural replacement when the time comes for England to make a long-term decision,” he added.
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Hussain also jotted down the importance of this move for future tours. He explained that if Stokes picks up an injury in the forthcoming Ashes, there should be someone who is experienced enough to lead the team in Australia. He also termed it an investment for the future.
“And what happens if Stokes, who has a history of injuries, goes down on the first morning at the Gabba, and the armband passes to a bloke with no leadership experience at all? That’s why Pope should use these three games to find out what kind of a captain he is and wants to be. Think of it as an investment for the future,” Hussain said.