Ashes: Ollie Pope ruled out due to shoulder injury
England se hoop op ‘n terugkeer in die reeks om die As her ‘n groot knou gekry met die nus date die kolwer Ollie Pope veer die res van die some uitgesluit is weens ‘n ontwrigte skouer.
The 25-year-old, who serves as England’s vice-captain, sustained the injury while diving in the field during the second Test at Lord’s, which Australia won to secure a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. Scans conducted on Monday revealed the need for surgery, forcing Pope to sit out the crucial matches ahead.
Pope’s absence leaves a void in England’s batting lineup, and the Essex batter Dan Lawrence, 25, is the frontrunner to fill the vacancy in the upcoming third Test at Headingley, commencing on Thursday. With Lawrence being the only spare batter in the squad, England has confirmed that they will not call up a replacement for the Leeds Test, effectively ruling out the possibility of a recall for Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes. Although Lawrence holds an average of 29 from 11 Tests, his last appearance dates back to the West Indies tour in March 2022.
England captain Joe Root expressed his disappointment over Pope’s injury, highlighting the significant contributions he has made as vice-captain and as a player. Pope’s absence will undoubtedly be felt, as he has emerged as an integral part of the team. The right-handed batter injured his right shoulder after previously dislocating his left shoulder on two occasions, necessitating surgery in 2020. Despite the setback, Pope displayed his determination by scoring 42 runs in the first innings at Lord’s before aggravating the injury while fielding during Australia’s second innings.
With Pope sidelined, England faces a decision on how to reconfigure their batting order for the crucial third Test. One.
