The National Times - England's Pope keeps place for India series opener

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England's Pope keeps place for India series opener

SPORTS 18.06.2025

England's Pope keeps place for India series opener / Photo: © AFP

England vice-captain Ollie Pope has retained his place at number three for the first Test against India starting on Friday, meaning rising star Jacob Bethell must wait for his return to red-ball internationals.

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The pair were in competition for the same spot heading into the first of a five-Test series starting at Headingley on Friday.

Bethell impressed on the New Zealand tour in November and December before Pope underlined his credentials with an innings of 171 against Zimbabwe last month.

Bethell missed that match, opting instead to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League, although he showed his international quality during the recent white-ball series against the West Indies.

England team to play India in 1st Test:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wkt), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir

S.Cooper--TNT

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