Ollie Pope Steps Up as England's Stand-In Test Captain Amidst Stokes' Injury

Former England cricket captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton weigh in on Ollie Pope's temporary captaincy as he steps in for the injured Ben Stokes against Sri Lanka. They discuss the potential benefits, challenges, and implications for England's future matches, particularly ahead of the Ashes in Australia.

Former England cricket captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton have weighed in on Ollie Pope's recent appointment as England's stand-in red-ball captain for the upcoming matches. This follows news that regular captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out for the remainder of the English summer. Pope will lead the Test series against Sri Lanka.

Hussain believes this experience will be beneficial for Pope ahead of next year's Ashes series in Australia. "I think it's good for Pope to be captain for three Tests, just in case Ben Stokes gets injured in the future," Hussain said on Sky Sports Cricket Podcast as quoted by the ICC. "They need other options. You don't want to arrive in Australia without a backup plan," he added.

However, both former captains acknowledge that Pope will face his share of challenges. Michael Atherton notes that Pope, at 26, finds himself in a somewhat uncertain position due to the temporary nature of his appointment. "Essentially, you're in a caretaker position. And Ben Stokes has left such a permanent mark on the side, Ollie Pope wouldn't want to change that," Atherton said. "It's a slightly awkward position for him," he added.

Hussain also pointed out that Pope has yet to fully assert himself as the definitive leader of the team. "The feeling with Pope is that leadership doesn't come naturally, whereas cricketing intelligence comes very naturally to Stokes. Pope was given the vice-captaincy to get him out of his shell, and I think that was the right thing to do," Hussain noted. "As captain, you have to sell that belief to your team and sell your plans," he added. Despite the challenges, both former captains agree that Pope is a popular figure and extend their best wishes for his new role.

(With inputs from agencies.)