With Ben Stokes out of action, Ollie Pope is turning to Joe Root for guidance on balancing his duties as a batsman and captain. This comes after a challenging debut as England's interim skipper during the match against Sri Lanka. In the first of three matches in this role, while Stokes recovers from injury, Pope guided England to a five-wicket victory at Old Trafford, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series. However, Pope faced difficulties with the bat, managing only six runs in each innings, which included an ill-fated reverse sweep that led to his second dismissal.
Despite Stokes' absence, the England squad still benefits from Root's wealth of experience, as he captained the team in a record 64 Tests from 2017 to 2022, scoring 14 centuries even while leading a struggling side.
As England prepares for the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's, Pope has turned to Root for advice on maintaining his batting form while also fulfilling captaincy responsibilities. "I really enjoyed the week," Pope stated in a pre-match press conference on Wednesday. "Although the runs didn’t come my way, I hope to find a way over the next two weeks to keep my captaincy duties separate from my batting so I can focus better on my game."
Pope recognises the importance of managing the two roles, something Root has excelled at in the past. "It’s more demanding on the field, but finding a routine helps," Pope explained. "I've had discussions with Rooty, who has an exceptional understanding of the game and is England’s best batsman. We exchanged ideas."
Under the leadership of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, England has adopted a bold and aggressive style, particularly in their batting approach. However, Root's calm performance of 62 runs off 128 balls, with only two boundaries, was pivotal in anchoring England's chase of 205 at Old Trafford on a sluggish pitch, showcasing that there are various strategies to achieve victory.
"We don’t refer to it as 'Bazball,' but we played a different style of cricket at Old Trafford, and it's something that can help propel us forward as a team," Pope explained. "When we have the opportunity to be ruthless, we need to seize it to win as many games as possible," added the 26-year-old from Surrey.
Although Stokes has returned to the nets, he is not yet ready for competitive play following a hamstring injury sustained earlier this month in The Hundred. Nevertheless, Pope is optimistic about Stokes' recovery for the upcoming tours of Pakistan and New Zealand.
"Injuries are never ideal, but they provide players with a chance to improve and reflect on what they can work on," Pope remarked. "I’m confident that’s what Stokes is focusing on in the nets. Going into the series against Pakistan and then New Zealand, he’ll be fresh and ready."