Pope ‘in possession’ but not guaranteed No 3 spot – Key

Ollie Pope is “the man in charge” of England’s top three spot, according to Rob Key, who made no announcements regarding the first Ashes Test’s selection.

When England made their Australia tour squad, Pope was subject to pressure from Jacob Bethell for a large portion of the past year. He was replaced by Harry Brook as vice-captain.

“Ollie Pope is easier to drop if we take the vice-captaincy off,” said England managing director Key, according to an elaborate scheme.

You never make your decisions too soon because things happen, according to the tour guides we’ve conducted. We make decisions as soon as we can. Two days before the first Test, we’ll find out what that XI will be.

England announced their 16-man squad for the Ashes tour on Tuesday. Key explained the rationale behind selecting Will Jacks as the second spinner and why Brook was chosen as the vice-captain in a statement released on Wednesday.

Ben Stokes, the captain, and Mark Wood, the pace bowler, were also given fitness updates by Key. Chris Woakes’ international career was effectively ended by him because of his dislocated shoulder in the final Test against India in July, which prevented him from playing in the Ashes tour.

Woakes may not have made the squad in the absence of his two previous Australian appearances because he struggled. In an effort to be fit, he decided against having his left shoulder removed, and at 36, he is most likely to have played his final game for England.

Woakes’ final performance as an international cricketer was bravely batting with his dislocated shoulder to help England win the thrilling fifth Test.

In cricket terms, it’s been as difficult a time for someone as it has been for anyone else, according to Key.

He was running out of time to get ready for the Ashes’ debut. And then, once you leave an Ashes series, you frequently look to the following one, so we’re not planning on using Chris Woakes at the moment.

Key described Brook as a “better leader” than Pope when he was appointed England’s white-ball captain at the start of the summer.

Following the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May, the captain claimed there was an “agenda” against his then deputy.

In the first five-match series, Pope scored a century in the first innings of the first Test against India in June.

Bethell, age 21, struggled as a result of only one first-class game before joining the England squad for the final Test at The Oval, but the left-hander made his professional debut earlier this month in a one-day international against South Africa.

Before the Ashes, former England and Kent batsman Key predicted that Jacob Bethell would start playing in white-ball cricket. Jacob Bethell will continue to gain experience despite the fact that we are familiar with Ollie Pope.

With a shoulder injury, talismanic captain Stokes missed the final Test against India, causing England to have yet to lose any of its previous four Test series.

However, the 34-year-old increased his bowling during his county Durham’s County Championship game against Yorkshire at Headingley on Wednesday.

Before the Ashes series, Key said, “He won’t play a lot of cricket, but that didn’t prevent him from facing India.” It’s undoubtedly the best I’ve seen him bowl in a long time, if not ever, and that was without playing a lot of cricket in the summer.

“Ben Stokes has no issues at all,” I said. He typically develops, and everything he does prepares himself for these significant events.

Due to elbow and knee problems, Stokes’ Durham team-mate Wood hasn’t played a Test since August 2024, but Key is confident that “the world’s fastest bowler will be fit for the first Ashes Test on November 21.”

Although his recovery is likely a little slower than we anticipated, Key argued that we always erred in favor of caution.

Woody never needs to play a lot of games to improve, which is what he always does. He can bowl in nets and in middle practice, and then suddenly he runs up and bowls 95 mph.

Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, and Liam Dawson were chosen as Shoaib Bashir’s backup spinner, ahead of Surrey all-rounder Jacks.

Although he has only taken five first-class wickets this year, off-spinner Jacks offers England height and the option to improve their batting.

We believe Jacks offers a lot of different options in the coming weeks, Key said.