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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ali Martin

Pope determined to prove he warrants England place and Stokes’ defence

Ollie Pope plays a shot for England in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe.
Ollie Pope scored 171 in England’s Test victory against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images/Reuters

A Test match that began with England saying they wanted to be better at media interactions and show a touch more humility ended with the captain growling about his words being twisted. And they say a week is a long time in politics …

It was my question that sparked all this, as it happens. The day before the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, I asked Ben Stokes about Jacob Bethell, the conversations that surrounded his absence to play in the Indian Premier League, and whether, as the “incumbent No 3” who made such an impression in New Zealand, he would be “straight back in” for the series against India.

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