Marcus Trescothick has hinted Ollie Pope will stay as England’s first-choice quantity three for the Ashes, saying the vacationers are “very constant” of their choice.
England meet England Lions of their solely Ashes warm-up match in Perth from Thursday and are prone to subject one thing near the XI that can line up within the first Check on 21 November.
Pope has been underneath strain for his quantity three spot from Jacob Bethell for the previous yr.
When requested who will fill the function within the tour match, England assistant coach Trescothick informed BBC Sport: “I am presuming the identical form of quantity three we have had for a time period.”
He added: “I can solely say we’re a really constant staff in what we’re attempting to do.”
Pope averages 41.60 batting at quantity three for England, though has a behavior of fading as collection progress. Within the residence summer season he made a century in his first innings of the collection towards India, then handed 50 solely as soon as in his subsequent eight.
When England introduced their Ashes squad, Pope was changed as vice-captain by Harry Brook, showing to make the Surrey man extra susceptible to being overlooked of the staff.
On the time, director of cricket Rob Key stated Pope was the “man in possession” of the number-three spot.
Bethell, 22, is an impressive prospect and made his first skilled century in a one-day worldwide towards South Africa in September.
The left-hander was a part of England’s white-ball tour of New Zealand final month so had the possibility to press his Ashes case, however might solely handle a highest rating of 24 in 5 innings.
Bethell remains to be prone to be a part of the tour recreation. Any gamers from the Ashes squad not within the England XI for the three-day recreation will be a part of the Lions XI.
With enjoying just one observe match earlier than the primary Check, England wish to ramp up the depth through the recreation at Lilac Hill. Captain Ben Stokes, who typically skips warm-up matches, is ready to play his first cricket since July after recovering from a shoulder harm.
Regardless of that, former England opener Trescothick stated performances within the warm-up would in all probability not alter plans for the primary Check towards Australia at Optus Stadium.
“I assume everybody has a chance to stake their declare,” he stated. “As I discussed, how constant we have been with our staff choice, it has been very degree.
“Bar the odd harm we have not likely chopped and adjusted an awesome deal. It is undoubtedly not going to alter dramatically earlier than the beginning of an Ashes collection as a result of somebody places their hand up by taking 5 wickets or will get 150.
“The staff has been what it has been for a time period for a cause, in order that while you come to massive collection you might be extra settled and assured going into it.”
