England head coach Brendon McCullum and Ollie Pope throughout a nets session at The Kia Oval, London, Wednesday Sept. 4, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: AP
Stand-in Take a look at captain Ollie Pope stated Brendon McCullum can remodel the fortunes of England’s limited-overs groups in the identical manner he has reinvigorated the red-ball facet.
England cricket chiefs on Tuesday (September 3, 2024) introduced the New Zealander would take cost of all codecs from January and that he has prolonged his contract till the top of 2027.
“We have seen the influence he is had on us as a Take a look at staff and as people, which I feel he can then switch into the white-ball stuff as nicely,” stated Pope, talking forward of the third Take a look at towards Sri Lanka, beginning on Friday.
“He brings the perfect out of one another. He is an actual optimist and I feel that is actually good within the cricket world. So, very thrilling for English cricket total.”
McCullum, 42, inherits white-ball groups which have surrendered titles within the 50-over and 20-over world cups up to now 12 months.
When the previous New Zealand captain took cost of England’s Take a look at facet in Could 2022 they have been at a low ebb, with only one win in 17 video games.
However beneath his management they’ve gained 19 of their 28 Exams, enjoying an thrilling attacking recreation that has been labelled “Bazball”.
Pope, who has struggled with the bat in current matches, stated McCullum had given him confidence and freedom in his private recreation.
“He is acquired an ideal outlook on the sport normally and simply with the ability to form of draw a line beneath your greatest and your worst weeks as nicely,” stated the batter, who’s deputising as skipper for the injured Ben Stokes.
“I feel that is most likely one in every of his largest abilities as a participant, however now he is form of acquired that into his teaching as nicely. He is an enormous optimist.”
England, 2-0 up within the three-match collection towards Sri Lanka, have introduced in left-arm seamer Josh Hull for the ultimate Take a look at at The Oval.
The 2-metre tall 20-year-old, who solely made his first-class debut final yr, replaces Matthew Potts.
England are only one win away from finishing a clear sweep of house Take a look at triumphs for the primary time since 2004, having moved on emphatically from a disappointing 4-1 defeat by India within the winter.
Earlier than the Sri Lanka collection they beat West Indies 3-0.
“It would be particular to win 6-0 this summer time,” stated Pope. “And I feel successful’s a behavior, is not it? So I feel going ahead it’s going to put us in good stead. And clearly we have much more cricket to come back.”
Pope was requested whether or not taking over the captaincy was affecting his batting — he has mustered simply 30 runs in 4 innings towards Sri Lanka to date.
“To be sincere, I do not know,” he stated. “I feel final week I performed a reasonably common shot within the first dig (innings), which might occur. However that is nothing to do with the captaincy.”
Printed – September 04, 2024 10:11 pm IST
