Ollie Pope, England’s prolific batter, is set to miss the remaining matches of the Ashes series due to a dislocated shoulder.
The vice-captain of England’s squad sustained an injury during a fielding dive in the second Test at Lord’s, which resulted in a 2-0 series lead for Australia.
A medical assessment on Monday confirmed that 25-year-old Pope needs surgery and will be off the field for the remainder of the season.
England’s batting line-up for the upcoming third Test at Headingley, which kicks off this Thursday, is likely to be fortified by Dan Lawrence.
‘Mixed week in cricket highlighting the highs and lows’
Broad anticipates Cummins might rethink Bairstow’s decision
2024 summer schedules for England men’s and women’s teams revealed
At 25, Essex’s Lawrence is the only backup batter in England’s current squad. For the Leeds Test, England has dismissed the idea of bringing in an additional player, making a comeback for Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes unlikely.
With an average of 29 from 11 Tests, Lawrence has been out of the game since the West Indies tour in March 2022, which was prior to Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum assuming their roles as captain and coach respectively.
Pope’s injury this time is to his right shoulder. His left shoulder was previously dislocated twice before it was operated on in 2020.
He endured the recent injury during the first innings at Lord’s but still managed to contribute 42 runs. Amid a misunderstanding regarding the umpire’s instructions, Pope returned to the field for Australia’s second innings, worsening his condition.
Earlier in the season, Pope had an impressive score of 205 against Ireland, followed by performances of 31, 14, 42, and 13 in the Ashes series.
In the event of Pope’s absence in Leeds, one alternative approach could be to shift the batters up the order and reintroduce Moeen Ali at the seventh spot, while possibly bringing in Chris Woakes to replace a bowler and boost the batting strength.
In a recent press conference, ex-captain Joe Root didn’t exclude the possibility of moving up to the third spot, a position he has filled 33 times before.
Behind Gary Neville’s success: an intimate interview about his motivations arising from humble beginnings
How Wimbledon transformed the careers of tennis legends: Sue Barker’s worldwide journey for answers
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ollie Pope shoulder injury
What injury did Ollie Pope sustain during the Ashes 2023?
Ollie Pope dislocated his shoulder during the second Test at Lord’s in the Ashes 2023 series.
How long will Ollie Pope be out of the game?
After undergoing a medical scan, it was confirmed that Ollie Pope would require surgery. As a result, he is ruled out for the rest of the summer season.
Who is likely to replace Ollie Pope in the upcoming matches?
Dan Lawrence, who is currently the only spare batter in England’s squad, is the most probable replacement for Ollie Pope in the third Test.
When and where will the third Test be held?
The third Test is set to start at Headingley on Thursday.
Did Pope have any previous shoulder injuries?
Yes, Pope had previously dislocated his left shoulder twice, which required surgical intervention in 2020. This time, he has injured his right shoulder.
Who is the other potential replacement for Ollie Pope?
While it’s not certain, there’s a possibility that the batting order could be shifted, bringing Moeen Ali to the seventh spot and possibly introducing Chris Woakes to replace a bowler and strengthen the batting.
More about Ollie Pope shoulder injury
- Ashes 2023: Overview and Updates
- Player Profile: Ollie Pope
- Player Profile: Dan Lawrence
- England Cricket Team Updates
7 comments
wait what? No Foakes? Why ain’t they callin him back?
damn these injuries. remember stokes’ last season. Now Pope. Seriously messing up our game plan.
right shoulder, left shoulder, poor pope just can’t catch a break! Sending healing vibes…
Gutted for Pope, man! He’s such a talent… recovery soon mate.
Moeen Ali at 7 and Woakes to replace a bowler?? Not a bad idea at all. Let’s see what the coach decides…
Lawrence, eh? Hope he’s got his game on… we need to bounce back strong.
Root at 3? Interesting… would love to see how that pans out.