Pope Aims to Reward England with Runs in Second Test

Ollie Pope, stepping in as England’s captain for the injured Ben Stokes, is eager to make a significant impact with the bat in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. Pope, who led England to victory in his debut match as captain during the series opener at Old Trafford, is determined to contribute more substantially with his batting after modest scores in Manchester.

At 26, Pope is relatively new to the captaincy role, having filled in for Stokes who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Despite England’s win in the first Test, Pope’s performance with the bat was underwhelming, managing only six runs in each innings. The vice-captain to Stokes for nearly two years, Pope will lead England for the remainder of the series against Sri Lanka.

Pope, who has an average of 34.64 from his 47 Test matches, has been working on separating his duties as a captain from his role as a batsman. “I’ve learned how to keep my batting and captaincy separate,” Pope said  “It’s important to put one role aside as soon as we leave the field and focus on the other.”

He added, “The runs didn’t come for me in the first Test, but securing the win for the team was the priority. I hope to put together some good innings in the coming weeks to reward the team with runs.”

Seeking guidance from former captain Joe Root has been part of Pope’s strategy to balance his new responsibilities. Root, who led England in a record 64 Tests before Stokes took over in 2022, averaged 46.44 with the bat during his captaincy. Despite facing challenges with his team’s results toward the end of his tenure, Root’s insight has been invaluable for Pope.

“It’s not a major adjustment, but it’s about finding a way to return to your usual batting routine,” Pope said. “The key is to maintain the successful methods I’ve used over the past few years and to compartmentalize my roles.”

With England’s Test team undergoing significant changes over the past year due to injuries, the lineup for the second Test will look different. Only four players from the final Ashes Test against Australia will be in the team at Lord’s. A notable change is the recall of Olly Stone, who will make his first Test appearance in over a year. Stone, who has struggled with injuries since his debut in 2019, replaces Mark Wood, who is also out with a hamstring injury.

Stone, who has experienced a series of stress fractures and a career-saving spinal surgery, is now back to full fitness thanks to pilates. While he may not match Wood’s pace, Stone can still bowl at speeds around 90mph. Pope expressed optimism about Stone’s return, noting, “He’s feeling really good about his body and his bowling. He’s an exciting bowler who has impressed in the past, so we hope he can excel this week.”

Sri Lanka has made two changes to their squad after their loss in Manchester. Pathum Nissanka returns to the Test team for the first time in two years, replacing Kusal Mendis. Additionally, pace bowler Lahiru Kumara comes in for left-arm spinner Vishwa Fernando. Dinesh Chandimal, who was injured in the first Test, may not keep wicket, with the gloves potentially going to Nishan Madushka.

Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva acknowledged the need for improvement. “We fought well in the first Test, but it wasn’t enough,” he said. “We need to be more accurate with our plans. I was confident before Old Trafford, but we couldn’t deliver our best.”

As both teams prepare for the second Test at Lord’s, the focus will be on adapting strategies and making the most of their respective opportunities.