Ollie Pope, England’s stand-in captain, has sought guidance from former skipper Joe Root on balancing the demands of batting and leadership. Pope, who led England to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Old Trafford, struggled with the bat, scoring twice for six.
Despite the team’s success, Pope recognized the need to separate his captaincy and batting responsibilities. He turned to Root, who captained England for a record 64 Tests, for advice. Root, known for his exceptional batting skills, emphasized the importance of compartmentalizing the two roles.
“It’s about having the two things separate,” Pope said. “That’s something I’ve spoken to Joe Root about. We just spoke about how it’s more taxing in the field but it’s finding a little routine and doing small things.”
Pope acknowledged Root’s “great cricket brain” and sought his insights on managing the mental and physical demands of captaincy. Root’s experience in leading England through challenging times proved invaluable to Pope.
While England’s aggressive batting approach under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum has been successful, Pope highlighted the importance of adaptability. He praised Root’s unbeaten 62 off 128 balls in the first Test, which showcased a more measured approach on a slow pitch.
“We don’t use the term ‘Bazball’ but we played a different style of cricket (at Old Trafford) and that’s something that can keep taking us forward as a team,” Pope said.
Despite Stokes’ absence due to injury, Pope expressed confidence in his return for the upcoming tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. He believes that the break will allow Stokes to improve his game and return refreshed.
