Ollie Pope stood briefly at the crease under the unforgiving Adelaide sun, absorbing the moment that may yet define his England career. Dismissed cheaply on day two of the third Ashes Test, the England number three knew exactly what his wicket represented — not just another failure, but a door flung wide open for Australia to seize complete control of the match.
For Pope, this was supposed to be a chance to steady England’s faltering Ashes campaign. Instead, it became another entry in a growing list of missed opportunities, one that has left his place in the side hanging by a thread.
England Needed Runs — Pope Delivered Another Familiar Dismissal
England’s need for stability at number three has rarely been greater. With the Ashes already slipping away, Pope’s role was clear: blunt Australia’s relentless attack and provide a platform for those around him.
Instead, he managed just three runs from 10 balls.
His dismissal was scrappy and symptomatic of deeper issues. After surviving a tight lbw call against Cameron Green — a marginal decision that might have altered the course of his innings — Pope unraveled quickly. A bouncer from Scott Boland unsettled him, a near-miss followed, and then came the shot that ended his stay: a tentative flick straight to mid-wicket off Nathan Lyon, a bowler who has persistently troubled him throughout his career.
It was jerky. It was rushed. And it felt all too familiar.
From Early Promise to Lingering Doubt
Pope began this Ashes series with signs of composure. His 46 in the first innings of the opening Test in Perth hinted that he might finally deliver consistency in Australian conditions.
But since then, the pattern has reverted. Two loose dismissals in Brisbane preceded another in Adelaide, reinforcing long-standing concerns about his temperament under pressure.
Former England batter Dawid Malan, who occupied the same number three position on England’s last Ashes tour, believes Pope is trying too hard.
“You’re desperate to score,” Malan told BBC Sport. “You’re caught between wanting to survive and wanting to play your natural game. It looks like he’s hanging the bat and rushing himself.”
The suggestion is not that Pope lacks talent — far from it — but that anxiety is undermining his decision-making.
The Numbers Behind Pope’s Decline
Captain Ben Stokes has often defended Pope by pointing to his average at number three, once a symbol of England’s faith in him during the early Bazball era.
That metric now tells a different story.
- Pope’s average at number three has dropped below 40 for the first time since 2022
- After 13 Tests in the role, he averaged 49.80
- That figure now stands at 39.96
- Against Australia, Pope has played 15 innings without a single half-century
- His Ashes average sits at 17.66
Only one England batter in history — MJK Smith between 1961 and 1972 — has played more innings against Australia without reaching fifty.
These are numbers that demand scrutiny.
A Career Defined by Peaks and Valleys
The highlight of Pope’s England career remains his extraordinary 196 against India in Hyderabad in February 2024 — one of the finest overseas innings played by an English batter in modern times.
That knock was expected to be the turning point, the innings that unlocked consistency to match his obvious ability. Instead, his form since has steadily declined.
Across 24 Tests in the World Test Championship, Pope averages just 28.83 runs per dismissal. While there have been flashes — including another century against India at Headingley — they have been outweighed by 15 single-figure scores.
The promise remains. The delivery has not.
England’s Role in Pope’s Uncertainty
Pope’s struggles cannot be viewed in isolation. England’s management must share responsibility for the uncertainty that now surrounds him.
Throughout 2025, the selectors have repeatedly flirted with replacing Pope with 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, who filled the number three role during the tour of New Zealand. Public comments from senior figures, including managing director Rob Key, kept the possibility of change alive.
The result has been instability for both players.
- Bethell has barely played red-ball cricket this year
- Pope has continued without the security that once allowed him to thrive
- The vice-captaincy was removed from Pope on the eve of the Ashes
Neither player has truly benefited.
Is a Role Change the Only Way Forward?
There remains a scenario in which Pope survives — just not at number three.
In six Tests as a stand-in wicketkeeper, Pope averages 45.60, the best batting average by an England keeper in over 130 years. Former England captain Michael Vaughan has suggested a reshuffle could be an option if England decide Jamie Smith needs removing from the spotlight.
“At number three he’s done,” Vaughan said. “He’s had plenty of chances there. Moving him down and keeping is one option.”
It is a solution that reflects England’s desperation for balance rather than confidence in Pope’s long-term suitability at first drop.
One Last Chance in Melbourne?
After 64 Tests and 34 innings at number three, the equation is now brutally simple.
Ollie Pope has one innings left to justify his place in England’s most scrutinised batting position.
With the Ashes slipping away and pressure mounting on England’s batting order, Melbourne may yet provide a final opportunity — either to revive his Test career at number three or to signal the end of a long experiment.
Leave a Reply