Ollie Pope’s batting statistics in the Ashes series against Australia:
| Test Matches | Innings | Runs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 90 | 22.50 |
London, July 4, 2023 – In a major setback for England’s Ashes campaign, Ollie Pope has been ruled out for the remainder of the series after dislocating his right shoulder during the second Test at Lord’s last week. The news was confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today.
Pope, who has previously suffered two shoulder dislocations, underwent a comprehensive scan in London on Monday, which revealed the full extent of his injury. As a result, he will undergo surgery and will subsequently miss the final three Tests against Australia. The talented batsman will then commence his rehabilitation program under the supervision of the medical teams from England and Surrey.
The incident occurred when Pope dived to field a ball on the first day of the Lord’s Test. Despite aggravating his shoulder injury on day three, Pope valiantly took the field after batting in England’s first innings, where he scored a commendable 42 runs. This decision, albeit frustrating for England, was made due to the umpires’ insistence. Jeetan Patel, England’s spin coach, empathized with Pope’s predicament, acknowledging the dedication he displayed in representing the team.
“It’s a pretty tough situation when you nearly bust your shoulder and you’re told it was an external [injury],” Patel said. “It was always going to happen. He’s so committed to this team. He was always going to fall on something. And now he’s back off.”
Notably, Pope also serves as England’s designated vice-captain. Although his absence will create a leadership gap, the team management has identified Stuart Broad as the likely candidate to step up as Ben Stokes’ deputy. Broad has previously fulfilled this role unofficially during the previous summer.
While Pope’s performance in the Ashes series against Australia has been modest, averaging 22.50 across four innings, he has excelled as England’s first-drop batsman since the leadership of Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum commenced last summer, with an impressive average of 45.25. With England currently trailing 2-0 in the series and facing a must-win match to keep their Ashes hopes alive, finding a suitable replacement at the top of the order becomes a pressing concern.
Dan Lawrence emerges as the most likely candidate for a like-for-like replacement. As the only spare batter in the squad, England had chosen not to name a replacement, placing their faith in Lawrence’s abilities. Moreover, Lawrence has been in excellent form domestically, accumulating 491 runs at an impressive average of 44.63 for Essex, including two centuries.
Another potential option for England could be the reintroduction of Moeen Ali to the side, following his recovery from a finger injury. This move would necessitate pushing the remaining batters up the order, requiring Joe Root to return to the No.3 position, a role he has previously been reluctant to fill. Additionally, Harry Brook, known for his promising performances, could be considered for the role.
With Pope’s absence and the team’s urgency to reverse their fortunes in the series, England’s management faces a crucial decision in selecting the most effective replacement. The outcome of this choice will play a vital role in shaping the team’s performance and their prospects in the ongoing Ashes contest.
