3 h. ago England: Ollie Pope never in danger of being dropped, insists Ben Stokes

Jacob Bethell has forced the issue of Ollie Pope’s inclusion with some strong recent performances

Politics

5 h. ago It would be remarkable to drop Ollie Pope after 171 – Ben Stokes

Pope will line up for England against India despite pressure on his number three place from Jacob Bethell.

Politics

5 h. ago England are right to stick with a settled top six – Bethell should follow the Lara model | Mark Ramprakash

Ollie Pope retains his No 3 spot for the first Test and India wouldn’t mind having a bit more of that kind of continuityThere always seems to be one man under pressure in England’s batting lineup and consensus over the winter seemed to be that Jacob Bethell’s emergence had put Ollie Pope’s place at risk. Pope has clung on to his place for the start of the India series and my view is that Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum should be very careful before they mess with what is probably the most settled top six of any Test side in the world at the moment.There was speculation about both Pope and Zak Crawley before they scored centuries in last month’s game against Zimbabwe, but that performance should have secured their spots for this series at least. Bethell is a huge talent and some really top cricketers have spoken very highly about his performances and potential – clearly his time will come. He was impressive in New Zealand over the winter and since then we’ve seen exhilarating glimpse...

Politics

27 h. ago England vs India: Ollie Pope retains place over Jacob Bethell for first Test against India

Jacob Bethell must wait for his chance as Ollie Pope keeps his place at number three

Politics

28 h. ago Ollie Pope gets nod as Jacob Bethell left out of England side for first Test against India

Pope edges out Bethell for the No 3 spot as Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse return to the seam attack

Politics

30 h. ago Sir Alastair Cook explains why England should pick Ollie Pope over Jacob Bethell against India

The debate over England number three position rumbles on for both the India series and the Ashes in December

Society

3 w. ago Ollie Pope eager to prove he is better equipped to deal with Australia and India

Pope scored 171 against Zimbabwe as England ran out convincing winners on the one-off Test.

Economics

3 w. ago Ben Stokes claims Jacob Bethell comments were ‘twisted to suit an agenda’

The England captain had hinted at an immediate return to the Test side for the left-hander but has since clarified his remarks

Politics

3 w. ago Ben Stokes backs Ollie Pope after England century sees off ‘agenda’ against him

The England captain said an answer of his about selection for the India series had been ‘twisted’ after the innings and 45 runs win over Zimbabwe.

Politics

3 w. ago Ben Stokes hits out at ‘twisted agenda’ over centurion Pope’s status

England captain says remarks were misinterpreted‘Popey knows how much I value him’Ben Stokes criticised the speculation about Ollie Pope’s position in the England team, insisting parts of the media were pursuing “an agenda” against him. On the eve of England’s victory inside three days, the captain was asked about the chances of Jacob Bethell, away playing in the IPL, returning for next month’s series against India.“If you talk about nailing down a position, Beth has done himself the world of good with the performances he put in [in New Zealand over the winter],” Stokes said. “I think you can put two and two together.” Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Ben Stokes strikes twice for England as Brian Bennett leads Zimbabwe resistance

Zimbabwe were 210 for five at tea replying to England’s 565 for six.

Events

3 w. ago ‘I’m the right man’: Zak Crawley ignores pressure with century against Zimbabwe

‘I’ve been made a better player by people around me’Crawley’s place thought to be under threat from BethellIf Zak Crawley showed little sign of the pressure he was under as he became one of three English centurions on the opening day against Zimbabwe, it is possibly because he did not know he was under any.The opener’s place in the team was presumed to be at risk after a poor run of form was followed by heavy hints that Jacob Bethell would be parachuted straight into the team on his return from the IPL, but after scoring 124 – England’s third-highest innings of the day after Ben Duckett’s 140 and Ollie Pope’s unbeaten 169 – the 27-year-old insisted he had heard no such rumours and had felt nothing from his coaches and colleagues except support. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Ollie Pope scores century as England set new record in dominant win over Zimbabwe

England make light-work of Zimbabwe in first meeting between the nations for 22 years

Politics

3 w. ago Ollie Pope smashes 169 off Zimbabwe to show England selectors his class

Only Test day 1: England 498-3 v ZimbabweDuckett and Crawley also hit centuries in one-off TestThere were shades of The Thick of It after Ben Stokes gave his press conference a day out from this one-off Test against Zimbabwe. When the minister – or in this instance the England captain – said Jacob Bethell would be straight back in for the series against India, this apparently referred to the squad and not necessarily the XI.That Stokes sought to make this clarification through the back channels perhaps said more about the task at hand than England’s true thoughts on the subject. No captain would ever wish to send a player out believing whatever they achieved would be irrelevant, not least a vice-captain and team-first character such as Ollie Pope. Continue reading...

Culture

4 w. ago Ben Duckett hundred powers England into dominant position against Zimbabwe

Duckett made 140 as England reached two on 295 for one.

Politics

4 w. ago Jacob Bethell ‘has done himself world of good’ – Ben Stokes hints at Test recall

The 21-year-old made a strong impression in his debut series against New Zealand before Christmas.

Politics