Former England captain Michael Atherton reckons that the decision to drop an “insecure” Ollie Pope was the right call, while highlighting how things have started to fall apart during Brendon McCullum’s time as head coach.
Once a vital cog in the team, Pope was stripped of his vice-captaincy duties before the start of the Ashes. Despite being inconsistent throughout his career, he was backed by the team in the number three position. However, he failed to deliver, scoring only 125 runs in the first three Ashes Tests. His average in the series — 20.83 — is the second-lowest for any top-six batter to have batted in all six innings of the series so far.
“Removing him from the firing line is the right call,” Atherton wrote in his column for The Times. “The No. 3 position carries special status in Australia because it is often where their best players have batted, as opposed to No. 4 in an England side, but Pope has looked too insecure in what is a vital position. After three poor Tests, his average away from home has dropped below 30, and against Australia it is a paltry 17.”
It was McCullum who persisted with Pope at No. 3 for the longest time during his tenure. While the Surrey-based batter showed flashes of brilliance, he could never truly do justice to the position. “Putting Pope at No. 3 was the first big call that Brendon McCullum made as head coach, and dropping him will be a painful reminder of how everything is falling apart,” he added.
England have named their playing XI for the Melbourne Test. Jacob Bethell replaces Pope, while Gus Atkinson comes in for Jofra Archer, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the series.
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