Stepping into the captain's role for England, Ollie Pope is determined to make an impact with the bat in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's. Filling in for the injured Ben Stokes, Pope led the team to a victory in the first match of the series at Old Trafford. However, his personal performance with the bat left room for improvement, as he managed only six runs in each innings.
Pope acknowledged that he is learning to balance his responsibilities as a captain with his batting. He shared with BBC Sport that separating his duties on the field from his focus at the crease is crucial, and he's working on drawing a clear line between the two roles.
Having served as vice-captain to Stokes for nearly two years, Pope is now leading the side for the entire series after Stokes was sidelined by a hamstring injury. Despite being part of the leadership group, there is still some debate over the security of Pope's position in the top six.
Reflecting on his recent performances, Pope highlighted that while personal runs eluded him, the team's victory was paramount. He remains hopeful that he can contribute more significantly in the upcoming matches, aiming to reward the team with a strong performance.
Pope, who has an average of 34.64 from his 47 Tests, has sought advice from former captain Joe Root on managing the dual responsibilities of leadership and batting. Root, who captained England in 64 Tests before being succeeded by Stokes, was known for maintaining a high batting average even as the team's results fluctuated. Pope mentioned that Root has been a valuable sounding board, helping him find ways to stick to the routines that have brought him success in recent years.
England's Test team has seen considerable changes over the past year. Injuries have sidelined key players like Stokes, opener Zak Crawley, and pace bowler Mark Wood. As a result, only four players from the final Ashes Test against Australia are set to take the field at Lord's.
One notable inclusion is Olly Stone, who is making his first Test appearance in over two years, replacing the injured Wood. Stone, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career, will earn just his fourth Test cap. Despite not possessing Wood's express pace, Stone can still deliver speeds of up to 90mph. Pope expressed confidence in Stone's ability to make a significant impact, praising his fitness and readiness to return to Test cricket.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has made two changes following their defeat in Manchester. Pathum Nissanka is set to play his first Test in two years, replacing Kusal Mendis, while fast bowler Lahiru Kumara comes in for Vishwa Fernando. Dinesh Chandimal, who suffered a thumb injury in the first Test, might hand over wicketkeeping duties to Nishan Madushka.
Reflecting on the first Test, Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva acknowledged that while they showed fight, it wasn't enough. He stated the need for more precision in their game plan as they head into the second match.