Pope and Brook's Journey in England

Ollie Pope’s struggle with diminishing Test performances after stepping into a leadership role isn't an isolated issue; Harry Brook has faced similar challenges since becoming vice-captain for the Sri Lanka series. Brook, who is known for his ruthlessness, has seen his usual form dip, giving away starts and averaging 39.50 across four innings—his lowest in any series where he has played multiple matches.

Though Brook’s performance is still superior to Pope’s disappointing 7.50 average, their handling of new responsibilities has been markedly different. Fresh off England's victory at Lord's, which secured a 2-0 series lead, Pope discussed the difficulty of "blocking out the criticism." Balancing captaincy and batting has proven challenging for him, especially with the inevitable comparisons to the inspiring Ben Stokes, England's regular Test captain. Brook, however, remains unfazed, commenting that the vice-captaincy “isn’t a massive role” and that Pope has done an “amazing job.” He added that while it's frustrating not to convert starts into big scores, he believes a significant innings is just around the corner.

The contrast between their temperaments is striking. While Pope’s England career has been marked by peaks and valleys, even during his consistent run at No. 3 under Stokes, Brook has maintained steady form. Despite waiting 14 innings for his fifth Test century, Brook delivered match-winning half-centuries in last summer’s third and fifth Ashes Tests.

Reflecting on the summer of 2022, it was Pope who proactively called Stokes to request the No. 3 spot. Stokes admired Pope’s initiative and respected his willingness to take on the challenge. Meanwhile, with the top six positions filled, Brook spent much of that season carrying drinks until he got his opportunity in the final Test against South Africa after Jonny Bairstow's injury. Pope’s decision to take on the No. 3 role could be seen as a pivotal moment in his career, but it also had consequences for Brook. If Brook had played more than six Tests by the time the vice-captaincy was decided, he might have been the one leading against Sri Lanka instead of Pope.

Leadership has, however, been a growing part of Brook’s 2024, especially after captaining the Northern Superchargers in the men’s Hundred. Brook described the experience as “different, but good fun,” working alongside new head coach Andrew Flintoff. The Superchargers narrowly missed out on a top-three finish, with Brook impressing both tactically and as the team’s second-highest run-scorer with 163 runs. He acknowledged learning from Stokes, who has been a significant influence on his leadership style. With Jos Buttler sidelined by injury, Brook might soon get the chance to apply those lessons on the international stage.

When asked if he is eager to captain more, Brook responded diplomatically with “we’ll see,” but it’s evident that leadership roles are on the horizon for him. In a Test squad featuring several players aged between 23 and 27, Brook is poised to play a crucial role in England's present and future.

While it remains Stokes’ team, as evidenced by his visible presence during matches at Emirates Old Trafford and Lord's, the upcoming final Test at Kia Oval could mark a significant achievement—a flawless Test summer for England, a feat not accomplished in 20 years. If successful, it will be a testament to the combined leadership of Stokes and Pope. Although the relative weakness of their opponents may prevent England from being seen as a dominant force ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes, one thing is becoming clear: the next Test captain for England is likely to be Pope’s vice-captain, Harry Brook, rather than Stokes.