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SELECT 👉 Basin Reserve feed
Pope “on the chopping block” as legend floats Stokes to 3
SEN • December 10th, 2025 9:05 am
Something has to give if England are any hope of salvaging some dignity from this Ashes series, and the general consensus among the former players is that Ollie Pope has to go.
Five of the UK Telegraph’s six cricket writers – which includes Michael Vaughan - have elected to drop the No 3 batsman who has scored 46, 33, 0 and 26 across the two Tests.
Jacob Bethell is the most likely replacement if they go for a like-for-like swap at three, although Vaughan wants to see England captain Ben Stokes move up the order.
“Pope’s race is run at three,” Vaughan writes in the Telegraph. “I do not think Bethell has done enough to play. I would put Stokes to No 3, as I have said before.
“He is the best technician and reads the situation best. He is an incredible leader and they need a No 3 who will lead. I would have Will Jacks at No 6, then there is a question over whether Pope gets a go keeping if Jamie Smith is completely frazzled.
“He looked a shadow of himself this week, and sometimes you have to take people out of the firing line before it becomes really damaging long term. They have to assess that, but for now I would back Smith.”
The Telegraph’s Will Macpherson is another who fears for Pope’s spot in the team, suggesting his head is ‘first on the chopping block’. Unlike Vaughan, though, Macpherson would pick Bethel at three, keeping Stokes at six.
“They might have to change some personnel, Pope is probably the first head on the chopping block, he’s been under pressure for a long time,” Macpherson told SEN The Run Home.
“He’s always done just enough to keep the wolf away from the door.
“He (Bethell) got 70-odd for the England Lions against Australia A.
“He still doesn’t have a First Class hundred, but he’s a classy looking player, and I think that (Bethell in for Pope) is a live option.”
