England fuming over Pope injury

ENGLAND are angry that Ollie Pope was forced to field in the second Test with what has turned out to be a dislocated shoulder that has ruled him out of the Ashes.

The England vice-captain damaged his right shoulder diving on the first day at Lord’s and left the field. His injury was confirmed as external, meaning he could bat in his usual position of No3.

But TV umpire Marais Erasmus, the senior official at Lord’s, then told England that Pope would have to field in Australia’s second innings to remain at No3, which he did until another dive worsened an injury that will now keep him out for the rest of the summer.

That has left England furious that they will be forced into a reshuffle for the crucial third Test at Headngley tomorrow without the man they designated as Ben Stokes probable captaincy successor earlier this season.

‘It’s a big blow for us,’ said former captain Joe Root. ‘Ollie has been phenomenal over the past 18 months. He’s stepped up as vice-captain and the responsibility given to him has led to us getting more out of him as a player. He’ll be a big miss for us.’

It is a big blow, too, for Pope, who has twice needed surgery on his left shoulder after suffering similar dislocations and will now face an operation on his right one. His absence will leave England without an official deputy should Stokes be injured or need to leave the field but his predecessor Root was adamant he will not be the man take over should that happen.

‘They are not my decisions to make any more’ said Root. ‘I just sit in the background and try to offer a bit of experience every now and then.’

One of the leading options is the intriguing possibility of Stuart Broad, England’s former T20 captain, taking over.