In the 23 days since England's last Test match, a lot has changed. The team has parted ways with their white-ball coach and lost key players, including an opener, a fast bowler, and their captain, to injuries. Adding to the turmoil, the cricket community mourns the loss of Graham Thorpe. It’s fitting that another Surrey batsman, Ollie Pope, will lead England in the upcoming Test against Sri Lanka in Manchester.
Pope, who will be the 82nd man to captain England in a Test, is stepping in temporarily, but this remains Ben Stokes’ team. When Stokes arrived at Emirates Old Trafford on Monday, his commanding presence was hard to miss. England has rarely changed captains in recent years—only four men have led the team in Tests since 2009.
The need for a stand-in captain is unusual, as the last time this happened was 17 years ago. Pope has been Stokes’ vice-captain for nearly two years, preparing for such a moment, especially with Stokes’ ongoing injury concerns. Ironically, just as Stokes’ knee began to heal, he injured his hamstring, ending a streak of 32 consecutive Tests.
During Stokes’ knee troubles, England had to adapt by using other all-rounders or reducing the number of specialist bowlers. This time, they’ve opted to replace Stokes with seamer Matthew Potts. The decision may be influenced by the opposition, with England perhaps feeling they can afford a slightly weaker batting lineup.
Dan Lawrence has also been brought in to open, replacing the injured Zak Crawley. Lawrence, who has been a reserve batsman, now gets his chance. His aggressive play style suits the team’s current strategy.
This series features stand-ins at almost every turn: Pope as captain, Lawrence as an opener, Potts as a seamer, and Harry Brook as the substitute vice-captain.
Old Trafford has seen such situations before. In 1999, another Surrey batsman, Mark Butcher, temporarily captained England. But Pope’s position is secure, and he and the team must use this series to prepare for the possibility of playing without Ben Stokes.