Stand-In Captain Ollie Pope Aims to Reward England with Runs in Second Test Against Sri Lanka

Stand-in captain Ollie Pope is determined to reward his England side with runs as they head into the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. Stepping in for the injured Ben Stokes, Pope led England to victory in the series opener at Old Trafford last week, but his personal contribution with the bat was modest, with scores of just six in each innings.

Pope, who has been vice-captain to Stokes for nearly two years, is now tasked with leading the team throughout the series against Sri Lanka after Stokes was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Despite his leadership role, Pope acknowledges that his batting performance has not yet matched his captaincy duties.

“I learned how I can have my batting and captaincy separate,” Pope told BBC Sport. “For me, it is about as soon as we get off the pitch, drawing a line under that and then focusing on batting.”

The 26-year-old understands the importance of balancing his dual responsibilities and is focused on making significant contributions with the bat. “The runs didn’t come for me but for the team to get the win, that’s the most important thing,” he said. “Hopefully over the next couple of weeks, I can put some good scores together and reward the team with some runs.”

Although Pope is firmly embedded in the England setup and his position in the side is not immediately under threat, his performance remains crucial. The opportunity to cement his place and lead by example is a driving force for him as England look to build on their series lead against Sri Lanka.

As England prepare for the second Test, Pope’s commitment to both his captaincy and batting will be closely watched. With a determined focus on making amends and delivering strong performances, Pope aims to inspire his team and contribute significantly to England’s continued success.