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Ahead of the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, England's regular Test captain, Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the remaining home summer due to a hamstring injury. He tore his left hamstring while playing for the Northern Superchargers during The Hundred 2024 last week.
Ollie Pope, who has been serving as a vice-captain will don the leadership role for the series, beginning on August 21 in Manchester. Although he has captained in only one first-class game for Surrey, the right-handed batter has been trusted by the team management due to his emerging career graph.
Meanwhile, England is coming into this series with a 3-0 whitewash against West Indies at home. However, it all came under Stokes' captaincy, who has led the side to 17 victories in 27 games since taking up the role in 2022.
On that note, let's take a look at three reasons why England need not worry despite Ben Stokes' absence.
#1 Reliable middle-order batters
The core middle-order batters of this England side consist of Joe Root and newly elected captain Ollie Pope. The last series against the West Indies witnessed them both in supreme form, and leading the run-scoring for the team. Root was the best batter with 291 runs, while Pope followed him with a 239-run tally.
Youngster Jamie Smith reciprocated his terrific domestic form in his debut international series as well. He garnered 207 runs in four innings, with a best knock of 95 in Birmingham. Apart from him, the ever-consistent Harry Brook also impressed with around 200 runs in the series.
Overall, England possess an in-form middle-order batter, who are expected to deliver the goods against Sri Lanka as well.
#2 Impressive pace-bowling attack
Although the departure of James Anderson will hurt England, the final two Test matches against the West Indies assured them of a well-balanced bowling attack. Gus Atkinson, who made his red-ball debut against the Caribbean side, exuded confidence by emerging as the highest wicket-taker with 22 scalps at an exceptional average of 16.22.
Moreover, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood played key roles as well. Wood, who had been delivering mediocre performances, rose to the occasion by picking a fifer in the final Test match. According to reports, Matthew Potts or Olly Stone can be an additional seamer in the playing XI, which further bolsters their pace-bowling department.
#3 Ollie Pope's readiness to lead England
Ollie Pope has been England's vice-captain since the 2022 Tour to Pakistan. Hence, he has been involved in the team's key decision-making and has grown in stature in the dressing room. This is also due to his impressive form in Test cricket while slamming 196 against India earlier this year in Hyderabad.
Last year, ahead of the India Tour, Pope expressed his confidence in leading the team, if Ben Stokes missed out due to injury concerns. According to him, there has been clarity by the team management that he would likely serve as Stokes' successor.
“I think, naturally, when you are vice-captain there is always a risk that the captain can go down,” Pope said in December 2023. “Stokesy is doing good but it would be silly for me not to prepare and think about and if it is required of me, it is something I have pretty decent clarity about, I think.” [H/t ESPNcricinfo]
Despite the lack of captaincy experience, Pope is expected to be doing well for the England side, who have been in charismatic form lately.
