Ben Stokes: England captain has subsidized ‘below highlight’ Ollie Pope after Test century towards Zimbabwe

England’s Test captain Ben Stokes has subsidized his “under spotlight “second-in-command Ollie Pope after his Trent Bridge century towards Zimbabwe.

England gained their first sport of the summer season by way of an innings and 45 runs towards combatants whose resistance best lasted till the 3rd afternoon in Nottingham, with Shoaib Bashir completing the vacationers off with a career-best haul of 6-81.

The sport had previous been arrange by way of a hat-trick of top-order loads from Ben Duckett (140), Zak Crawley (124), and Pope (171) – the latter two having confronted query marks over their puts within the facet.

With emerging famous person Jacob Bethell set to go back from the IPL in time for subsequent month’s India collection, survive Sky Sports Cricket, there used to be hypothesis {that a} exchange used to be within the offing.

Stokes inadvertently fuelled that at the eve of the fit when he praised Bethell and added, “I think you put two and two together and you probably know what’s going to happen”.

He has now clarified that he used to be no longer promising an speedy recall to the XI and steered Pope used to be being focused by way of critics.

Speaking to the BBC, he defined: “There’s all the time anyone going to be below the highlight. I’ve for my part felt that it used to be just a little of – no longer a vendetta – however I were given requested a easy query about Bethell.

“I said, ‘put two and two together, he comes back into the squad’ and then all of a sudden it turns into something that suits the agenda of the time.

“It is unlucky that you simply say one thing and it may possibly get twisted. I made it very transparent to Popey the evening sooner than this Test that isn’t the case.

“He’s my vice-captain and he’s been incredible for me and the team at number three. I’m very, very pleased for him that he went out there and played the way that he did.”

Pope used to be requested by way of Sky Sports’ Ian Ward on day probably the most Test about whether or not he used to be nervous about his place being below danger, however the vice-captain pushed aside the ones claims too.

“I think we’ve had some good conversations within the camp, and I know where I stand within the hierarchy, which is good,” Pope mentioned.

“The communication is really good and I’ve learnt along the way to not read too much in the media, especially in the lead up to the series, because it doesn’t help me.

“I’m simply seeking to rock as much as every day of cricket and ranking as many runs as I will and no longer let that impact the psychological facet of my sport as smartly.”