England's batting woes in the ongoing Ashes series have intensified, with significant pressure now mounting on number three batter Ollie Pope. His continued struggles have prompted former captain Nasser Hussain to publicly call for his omission from the side for the crucial fourth Test in Melbourne.
Pope's Persistent Batting Failures
Ollie Pope's difficult tour continued on the fourth day of the Adelaide Test, where he was dismissed for a mere 17 runs in England's second innings. This failure marked another chapter in a deeply disappointing series for the 27-year-old. Across six innings in this Ashes campaign, Pope has managed a paltry average of just 20.83, failing to register a single half-century. His last Test century dates back to the first Test against India earlier this year, and he has now gone 14 consecutive Test innings without reaching three figures.
Analysing Pope's technical and mental frailties, Nasser Hussain did not mince words while speaking to Sky Sports. He pointed out a worrying pattern in Pope's career, where he starts promisingly but gradually falls into a trap of repetitive dismissals. "It starts well – he started the tour game well, he got runs in the first innings of the first Test, and then slowly he just gets out the same way outside off stump," Hussain observed.
Hussain's Verdict: Time for Bethell
The core of Hussain's argument centred on the specific demands of the number three position, a role often considered the backbone of a batting lineup. "You want your number three to settle your dressing room, that’s what greats do, they calm the situation down. On this tour, when he’s been batting, Pope has looked vulnerable up front," Hussain stated.
His solution was clear and direct. "I personally would now make the change away from Pope. I can’t see him batting at number three in Melbourne. Jacob Bethell, who’s here and been in and around the England side for quite some time, I think he should probably come in at Melbourne," he recommended. This endorsement of Bethell signals a potential major shake-up in England's batting order as they try to salvage the series.
Broader Concerns for England's Top Order
Pope is not the only English top-order batter under the scanner. Opener Ben Duckett has endured an equally torrid time, compounding England's problems. The 31-year-old Duckett has scored only 97 runs in the series at an average of 16.16, with a highest score below 30. His dismissal for just 4 runs in Adelaide further highlighted the crisis.
Former captain Michael Atherton linked Duckett's struggles directly to the broader philosophy of 'Bazball'. He suggested that Duckett's failure "encapsulates the failure of Bazball" in Australian conditions. Atherton critiqued Duckett's method, noting his uncertainty against the bouncing ball and his reluctance to leave deliveries, which has led to a series of dismissals caught behind the wicket.
Interestingly, an alternative solution for Pope had been floated earlier by another former skipper, Michael Vaughan. Prior to the Adelaide Test, Vaughan suggested that Pope's future might lie down the order, potentially as a wicket-keeper. "I’m not saying I would go that way, but that’s one option – move Ollie down and keep. At number three he’s done. Ollie has had a lot of chances, but at number three I don’t think it’s working," Vaughan had told the BBC. Pope does have prior keeping experience in six Tests, where he averaged a much healthier 45.60.
As England heads to Melbourne, the selection dilemma is stark. The team management must decide whether to persist with a horribly out-of-form Ollie Pope at a critical batting position or heed the advice of experts like Hussain and inject new blood into the lineup with Jacob Bethell. The decision could define their chances of mounting a comeback in the Ashes.
