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Ollie Pope says he feels ready to captain England in Test Cricket this summer if Ben Stokes’s fitness doesn’t allow him to play in every one of his six matches.
Stokes’ longstanding left knee injury flared up during the series in New Zealand in February, limiting his ability to bowl, while he only played twice for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League due to discomfort. and not selection.
Pope was recently appointed Stokes vice-captain ahead of a test summer which begins with a one-off against Ireland at Lord’s from June 1 and then continues with the five-match Ashes series from June 16, with all games live in Sky sports.
The Surrey batsman said Sky Sports News On being named Stokes’ deputy: “It’s a huge honour. I was thrilled to hear it and it’s a good thing to have, it gives you a little more confidence that you’re backed by management and teammates.
“It doesn’t really change anything for me. I’ve tried to help Stokesy whenever I can, not that he needs to, if I have any ideas and obviously we have some great guys to call on with incredible experience, so those guys will be great to lean on.
“Everyone wants to see Stokesy play all six tests so fingers crossed that his body is fine and he can do it. But if that’s the case [that I captain] then i feel [ready]. It’s a big step up from doing it in warm-up games, but I have a little bit of experience with it.
The Pope was appointed deputy to Ben Stokes ahead of the summer trial.
“I’ve been watching Stokesy pretty closely with the way he deals with his captaincy. There’s only one Ben Stokes. I wouldn’t try to be him, but if they call me I feel confident I can convey the same messages to the guys.” .
“The team has been together for a long time and the guys know what their roles are in the team, so it’s all about getting the messages across and staying positive.”
Pope: Foakes ‘gutted’ for losing England job
Pope’s Surrey team-mate Ben Foakes has lost his place in the England side, with Jonny Bairstow, fit again, to take up the wicketkeeping gloves against Ireland after recovering from a broken leg.
Thursday June 1 10:00 a.m.
Foakes has found himself the outsider with Harry Brook, who initially replaced Bairstow in the XI after the latter’s injury last September, starting his Test career with four hundred and three half centuries in six matches.
Dad said: “[Foakes] He’s obviously pretty broken, but he’s going to have that hunger to keep developing his game to get back in the side. He has been a big part of what the team has been over the last 12 months.
“At the same time, Harry Brook has almost become unstoppable with the way he’s played and then you have what Jonny [Bairstow] did last summer [scoring four hundreds in six Tests].
Jonny Bairstow says he knows how Ben Foakes feels after being left out of squad to face Ireland
“It’s a very difficult decision that has been made and everyone is sorry for Foakesy, it’s not a good position to be in, but everyone is very excited to have Jonny back in the team.
“We know what he can offer and the amazing things he did last summer, so that’s exciting.”
Bairstow says he went through some ‘dark days’ after breaking his leg on a golf course last September
England have won 10 of their 12 Tests since Stokes became captain and they have adopted an aggressive brand of cricket, with Pope convinced the success can continue against Australia.
The 25-year-old added: “An Ashes series is bigger than any series we play, there’s no hiding behind that. I’d like to think that in England we’re favourites.”
“As long as we can continue to deliver those positive messages to the group, that’s the main thing for us. I’m 100 percent confident that we can continue in that form.”
Watch England’s Test Summer live on Sky Sports Cricket. The four-day test against Ireland takes place at Lord’s between June 1-4 and the Ashes series kicks off at Edgbaston from June 16.
