Alastair Cook Urges England to Back Ollie Pope at No. 3 for Ashes

Former England captain Alastair Cook has called on the national team selectors to show faith in Ollie Pope at No. 3 for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia, describing him as a proven performer and warning against the “gamble” of selecting rising star Jacob Bethell.

Pope's place in the side has come under scrutiny following a dip in form, with just one half-century in his last eight innings. Despite scoring centuries earlier in the summer against Zimbabwe and India, pressure has mounted with Bethell's rise through the ranks and England’s recent shuffle in leadership roles.

England’s top seven has remained stable for over a year, but Bethell’s emergence during last year’s tour of New Zealand — where he impressed while filling in for Jamie Smith — has put Pope under increased pressure. Although Bethell managed only 6 and 5 in his lone Test outing this summer, he had previously scored fifties in each of his first three Test matches and is seen as a long-term prospect.

Cook, however, believes the decision to stick with Pope is straightforward. “I would bat Ollie Pope at No. 3. I think it’s quite an easy decision,” Cook said on Tuesday, speaking at the launch of TNT Sports’ Ashes coverage. “He’s captained the side, played extraordinary innings for England, and he’s a hundred-maker. If you get rid of him now, it changes the dynamic of everything they’ve built over the past year.”

While praising Bethell’s talent, Cook cautioned against making changes so close to a major series. “He’s incredibly talented, but it would be a big, big gamble to pick him primarily off white-ball performances,” he said. “They’ve invested a lot in players like Pope and Crawley — changing that now would be strange.”

Brendon McCullum’s recent decision to replace Pope with Harry Brook as vice-captain has added to speculation that Pope’s place may be in jeopardy. However, Rob Key, England’s managing director, has insisted the move isn’t part of any wider plan to drop Pope and that final selection decisions will be made closer to the first Test in Perth on November 21.

Cook suggested the leadership change might actually benefit Pope. “It’ll take pressure off him. I’m sure it hurt him — losing a leadership role never feels good — but I don’t think it undermines him,” he said.

Looking ahead to the Ashes, Cook also believes Australia will be wary of England’s dynamic opening pair, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. “Australia will be so respectful of what Crawley and Duckett can do,” Cook said. “Crawley might not be consistent, but on his day, no one in the world plays the kind of innings he can at the top of the order.”

“An hour of Duckett and Crawley playing well, especially on the first morning, could give England huge momentum. That’s a real danger for Australia.”

The Ashes series begins on November 21 in Perth, with England still finalising key selection decisions in what is expected to be a fiercely contested tour Down Under.