Many of the greats of the game have batted at number three, the likes of Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith and Brian Lara, and England will hope Pope can get close to that.
Pope’s year has been one of feast or famine, he has scored two hundreds, including a stunning 196 in Hyderabad, but now has 12 scores of less than 25 to go with it. Those runs have come at an average of 33.35, which has led to questions being raised about the 26-year-old. England have remained resolute that Pope is the vice-captain, tipped to become the next leader of the side, but his form when he has taken charge has been unconvincing. He has one Test victory, but after three innings, he has faced just 34 deliveries and scored a meagre 13 runs.
Denne historien er fra August 30, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 30, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
City squander three-goal lead as team self-destructs
At least it was not a sixth successive defeat.
ACCLAIMING NORA
As the reality of another four years of Trump begins to set in, Robert McCrum suggests Nora Ephron’s comforting world of witty prose and whirlwind romances can help us through
Disabled people are terrified of Starmer's welfare reforms
“People are just frightened. There is no sense that the state in Britain is going to support us if we get into trouble. In fact, it’s the opposite.
Trump will change his tune on tariffs once in power
According to Donald Trump, the most beautiful word in the dictionary” is tariff”.
We can't separate God from the assisted dying argument
As Friday’s Commons vote on assisted dying draws closer, the debate surrounding it, which has so far focused on issues about the terminally ill, pain, personal autonomy, the ethics of killing, and care, seems to have moved from respectful dialogue to becoming more fraught and personal.
Five rescued 24 hours after yacht capsized in Red Sea
Search continues for seven people, including two Britons
Pakistan authorities launch operation to clear Islamabad
Move follows clashes in the capital between police and supporters of Imran Khan which have left six people dead
World's oldest man dies at 112, 'surrounded by love'
John Tinniswood was born in 1912, the year the Titanic sank
UK troops to probe drones mystery at US airbases
Dozens of British soldiers have been drafted in to help the US find out who is responsible for flying more mystery drones over three air bases in England.
Will our rat-infested prisons forever be a low priority?
Appalling conditions in English and Welsh prisons have been caused by years of underfunding, mismanagement and neglect, according to Elisabeth Davies, the national chair of the Independent Monitoring Boards.
