Ollie Pope believes England is reaping the rewards of Brendon McCullum's tough decisions to drop Jonny Bairstow and ease Jimmy Anderson towards retirement this summer.
Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, was nudged towards retirement following a discussion with the red-ball coach in April, a move he acknowledged as something he simply had to accept. Bairstow, who featured in both the 50-over and T20 World Cups and earned his 100th Test cap in India last winter, has been left out this summer. England’s chief selector, Luke Wright, mentioned on Tuesday that Bairstow was “hugely disappointed” by the decision. However, Pope, standing in as Test captain for the Sri Lanka series due to Ben Stokes' injury, noted that these choices allowed other players to step up and prove their worth. Among those benefiting are wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who has impressed with an average of 59.50 in his first six Test innings, and bowler Gus Atkinson, who has already claimed 26 wickets in his first four Tests.
Sri Lanka’s captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, has identified Atkinson as England’s most threatening bowler, even more so than Mark Wood. De Silva commented that while speed doesn't faze him, Atkinson's consistent line and length, particularly with the swinging ball, poses a significant challenge.
Pope praised McCullum for making difficult decisions he believed would strengthen the team. Although the term “Bazball” is avoided, Pope acknowledged that England’s different approach to cricket under McCullum continues to push the team forward, with Jamie Smith’s performances exemplifying this progress.
England secured a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Old Trafford, though they were hindered by what Joe Root described as a "slow and turgid" pitch and an outfield that was "longer than the semi-rough at most golf courses." Pope expressed confidence that the conditions would be more favourable when the second Test begins at Lord’s on Thursday, though he admitted frustration with the outfield.
Pope explained that England's positive style of cricket thrives on being rewarded for aggressive play, and a slower outfield limits their ability to put pressure on the bowlers. While recognising that both teams faced the same conditions, he noted that faster outfields would better suit England’s strategy.
Looking ahead, Pope is optimistic that the Oval, where the third and final Test will take place, will offer more traditional English conditions with quicker outfields, allowing England to capitalise on their aggressive play.
Meanwhile, Dawid Malan, left out of England's white-ball squads for the upcoming series against Australia, has announced his retirement from international cricket at 36. Malan, who represented England 114 times across all formats, reached the top of the world T20 batting rankings and was part of the squad that won the 2022 World Cup in that format.
Reflecting on his career, Malan stated that cricket is an industry where most players retire wishing they had achieved more, but he feels genuinely satisfied with his accomplishments. He acknowledged the pressures that come with constantly having to prove oneself, which take both a mental and physical toll, but he takes pride in what he has achieved.