Ask George | "Can we have a serious talk about Ollie Pope?"

[@Nickherts]

Don’t like, effectively, going in with one seamer on a pitch of low bounce, especially looking at Atkinson’s figures. Stokes only balances the side when he bowls. Interesting contrast with NZ where Latham still has two seamers because he has two spinners who can bat in the top seven. Liam Dawson would have been a useful option here.

[@Evil_Clown-eh6jz]

Stokes doesn't bowl...and against decent spinners, can't bat.

[@martyndaly1539]

Although Stokes might go ballistic at some point and he's captain. He's not bowling much because he's not needed and I doubt Foakes would have done much worse with the bat. Smith and Foakes might have been a better shout but hindsight is wonderful, I don't think many expected spin to be THIS important

[@olliericher8548]

This is the problem with how they dealt with Crawley in 2022: after that, how can you fairly drop anyone, ever again?

[@alextv293]

Pope hasn’t shown he has potential whereas zak has

[@Bigmjhgv]

@@alextv293slightly confused how u see it that way? Crawley 4 100s in 91 innings pope 7. Crawley average 31 pope 33. You’re not seriously saying that the odd double hundred means Crawley should be in?

[@adamjohn6384]

​@@Bigmjhgv31 average and 33 average is piss poor aswell the bowling standard is dreadful compared to 90s 00s

[@Bigmjhgv]

@@adamjohn6384 they’re both shit but I’m confused as to how he thinks Crawley has shown potential

[@adamjohn6384]

@@Bigmjhgv I suppose because Crawley was leading scorer against Australia last ashes. And Crawley got 5. 50s in India last tour in Asia. Crawley on a moving wicket can't score runs ges proven that. He looks stylish on the dead wickets. With pope he looks like he's a novice until he gets to 30 odd. Plus stat I read today 52 innings pope has failed to bat 30 balls big problem. But I blame mccullum we drew ashes 2-2 as England refuse a even slight tweak of tactics and he's encouraged no game management. 3 yrs of bazball no plan b

[@tobysatch973]

Bang on with Pope AND Stokes. And a total lesson from Shakeel in building an innings. England just come across as let's bash our way to victory or defeat in 3 days so we get more time off between tests.

[@martinradcliffe4798]

Apparently this current batting line up is in for life.

[@davidobrien4693]

They back their boys to the hilt, absolute faith, if you're not in their club though different story.

[@adamjohn6384]

Absolute joke the way they play don't alter there game plan at all not even a tweak watch Shakeel bat hrs and we can't bat minutes

[@adamjohn6384]

Joe root been bailing them out to long all England's great victory's root has Been around scoring runs

[@amanharwara]

I know its supposed to be like the brand colour, but could the red background be darkened so that it doesn't hurt the eyes so much?

[@HikarusVibrator]

Half the screen doesn’t have to be red to stay “on brand”. It looks horrible

[@amanharwara]

@@HikarusVibrator Yeah I agree, it makes it so much more difficult to look at the screen. I think a really dark colour for most of the frame except for a logo with the red at the bottom of the screen would work well.

[@verysurvival]

Englands preparations to win the moral ashes is looking good

[@Morhaw]

England don’t even need to compete for those. Lords holds the moral ashes in its museum for perpetuity

[@Alpha-oo8]

@@Morhaw which considering their freak out makes them look quite valueless

[@petercouz]

😅perhaps DanMousley with his 75mph yorkers!

[@freechordsthetruthmarceden8277]

The larger issue, is the death of the art of wicket keeping. Loved Gilchrist, but introduction into TC, as the pinch hitter, has led us to this stage, Foakes being the latest victim 😔

[@lsimmo78]

I agree with your thoughts on wicket keeping. Teams need to pick the best keeper because a keeper that can catch can lift fielding standards and help win games more than an adequate keeper who can play blistering knocks. Gilchrist was an outlier.

[@Alpha-oo8]

Yes, I agree. Thing is, Gilchrist was still a mighty fine keeper. But he was special, because he could do both. Most of the time, it’s one of the other.

[@julianbutterworth2272]

Sorry but what did Smith do wrong here? Why is this even an issue? Bazball is the problem cause if the pitch is not a road Bazball doesn’t work. The mentality and shock of it has worn off and now as soon as you make England batsmen have to work for their runs it inevitably causes chaos such as you just saw.

[@RBenjo21]

No, unless you are asking England to apply different rules to Pope they did to Crawley. Let’s not forget Crawley has no test hundreds this year, and Stokes is averaging 25.

[@JasonX2]

Pope and Stokes both need to go.

[@petersanders2815]

The last couple of years Stokes has seemed all at sea against decent spin.

[@Stick79]

Another very good Dylan quote. Any chance George would be willing to do a daily Dylan video, answering question on the great man?

[@nickrider5220]

I'd like to defend Ollie Pope, but I can't - too frenetic and too out of touch. It's far easier to make a solid case for Ben Foakes, he's great against spin, a brilliant wicketkeeper and Jamie Smith can play as a batter.

[@HkFinn83]

England has set a precedent now with Crawley and Pope. You get over 50 test matches without ever proving you’re worth your place in the team. Because a coach or selector feels like you have potential. 50 test matches is a decent length test match career, not a run in the team. If these guys go and score a double hundred against a weaker team in favourable conditions they’ll get another few years with no questions. It’s insane the situation they’ve got now.

[@davidhull2998]

Stokes offer what exactly?

[@davidhull2998]

A weak attack, carrying Pope and Stokes, and leaving out the best keeper. Unlikely to beat any of the top nations. But we hear that Key and McCullum are doing a great job...

[@tamasproductions]

10:13 freudian slip. In all seriousness though Foakes shouldnt be done in tests

[@matthewkimber4513]

You're gonna get stuffed in Australia 4-0. Sydney gets rained out. 😉

[@samwilsamwil-pr6so]

Bohannon, Cox, Wharton, Mccann?

[@joshforde698]

Pope has played 11 test innings in nine weeks, he has failed to reach 10 in 7 of those innings. A team can't afford a number 3 with those returns, and Pope can't be getting anything out of just going in at 3, getting out for single figures and have everyone say he's crap. He needs to be left out for New Zealand, for his and the team's good. Andrew Strauss was dropped for Sri Lanka in 2007 with a far superior record to Pope.

[@abhi1977]

Can anyone tell me whats Ben Stokes’ average in the subcontinent?

[@andrewlittle4648]

Around 26

[@abhi1977]

@@andrewlittle4648 quite poor for an allrounder

[@vevey75]

I think Foakes would have been the right choice to replace one of the spinners. Smith is a talented batsman and good no.2 keeper.

[@petercouz]

Stokes has been amazing, but not in these last two matches - Pope did better as captain - Foakes definitely should have been there and Keaton Jennings, particularly in these conditions.

[@Evil_Clown-eh6jz]

England thump their chest and make growling noises, but put them under pressure with spin...and they start to Grovel.

[@JasonX2]

Pope goes immediately, Stokes will also go soon, and Smith is on major keeping warning. Another drop - he gets the chop!

[@nzchamp]

I also personally think that Olli pope is most overrated player but he is nowhere near to IAN BELL

[@davidobrien4693]

Ben Stokes: There are no mistakes in life, some people say.

[@cavandavidson1185]

Get foakes and stokes sorted out. What a mess.

[@Alpha-oo8]

Red headed, can be brilliant, can also be infuriatingly inconsistent… Is pope the new Jonny bairstow? Now all we need is for him to throw a fit when he gets legitimately run out for not paying attention

[@petercouz]

would Australia have done any better? I dont think so!

[@DL-zq5ie]

Let's get Jordan Cox in to replace Pope. Pope is just not performing unfortunately

[@AndyL-gh2hr]

Bazzball has until now covered up the fact eng bowlers have problems bowling out the tail, and have for a long time, the massive run chases eng have produced has masked this, so to me we are no further ahead then when we lost to India in 2016,2021, and 2024. to many batsmen don't know how to bat time against spin, so there only way out is to be super agressive. its hard to blame the bowlers Basir is inexperienced what do you expect from him, how long did it take Swan to become a great spin bowler?, Eng had there chances but really you cant win matches if you can only bat 40 ovs, but having Jennings, cox and foakes in wouldn't have helped them bowl out the tail.

[@hannibalking85]

I watch this for a Ben Foakes mention

[@kulathumanis6777]

Foakes is probably the best keeper in the world, Drop Pope and play both

[@Andy_ATB]

Considering cricket is a sport that revolves about data, stats, etc It's remarkable how little some fans are about stats. Pope's stats are helped by two 'outlier' innings - which should be ignored - and he should be dropped. He's just not up to it and he's had a fair run.

[@beecricgamer9278]

Eng will be a mediocre team at the end of the bazball era, and India is next, following on to the footsteps of eng team to become mediocre desperately.

[@tigertriumph1453]

The same goes for Shan Masood

[@Alpha-oo8]

At least he actually has a hundred this series. Actually, he scored 20 odd today. Pope would love to score 20 at the moment

[@nandansharma3923]

Maybe just try Foakes at 3. Pope anyway is a walking wicket.

[@dgrimshaw8]

They should just sack off playing in Asia. They never get any better against spin

[@adamjohn6384]

Get the ball moving off the straight this is still mainly the same team that never won a game when root was in charge pope is tailender standard first 30 balls if he can get in he scores well techique is pathetic at that standard. Apart from 196 in india he has alot of single figure scores in asia. Plus 100 on a road last time in pakistan england scored 500 in a day. Flat track bullies

[@geoffbutler2893]

crawley duckett pope all going to aussie we are in trouble

[@danielburnett7208]

Ducketts done really well in general. Could have easily had 3 or 4 more centuries this year. Crawley should do well on aussie tracks, also he's done well against their bowling attack before in last years ashes. Totally agree with Pope tho 😂

[@geoffbutler2893]

@@danielburnett7208 Not convinced about either of them they find stupid ways of getting out pope seems to have one good innings every 15 . Not good enough.

[@Alpha-oo8]

Not sure why you’re mentioning ducket, he’s been one of englands best batsmen this tour

[@Bigmjhgv]

@@Alpha-oo8because he plays attacking cricket and some people can’t get their heads around it and want everyone to be boycott

[@rommels2108]

Rob Key i think has been utterly useless as ECB's Managing Director. Overhyped Baazball, Destroying the White ball side, Making bowlers who were performing overseas like David Willey and Anderson retire. Maybe he realises now that sitting on a couch and talking about this and that on a podcast is a lot easier.

[@heliumtrophy]

The other alternative though is that Rob Key is back at Sky commentating - for the sake of humanity, nobody needs that.

[@davidobrien4693]

Let's not forget David Malan, their best ODI player for the world cup and the year or so before that.